About

Hello! ​My name is Samantha, and I am working on my Girl Scout Gold Award. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. I started earning my Bronze award in grade school and my Silver Award in middle school. For my Silver Award, I made dog blankets, dog toys, and dog beds and donated them to a local dog shelter.

I chose my project for my Gold Award because when I was a Brownie in Girl Scouts I helped clean up parks with my younger brother, which at the time was a Cub Scout. We helped with S.O.L.V.E. (Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism). When we helped clean up we always came across big pieces of cardboard on the ground that a homeless person used that night. It inspired me to do something about it, but I wasn't sure what to do. Now that I am an Ambassador in Girl Scouts and working on my Gold Award, I can show and do what I wanted to do to help homeless people out.

​Because of my experience working with S.O.L.V.E, for my Gold Award project I chose to make sleeping mats from plarn – a material that can be made by anyone with access to plastic bags and in wet weather creates a dry barrier for people sleeping on the ground. Plarn mats are better for the environment, easy to carry and roll up, can be used both for the ground and a blanket, and are water-resistant. I have worked with other troops as young as 4th grade up to Juniors in high school, including my troop of 9th and 12th grade. I've shared information at a Girl Scout Ice Cream Social and the Tigard Farmers Market. I also wrote a magazine article about my project. If you know the Girl Scout law you would probably recognize the line, use resources wisely, and that is what I am doing with this project. Using plastic bags are reusable and safe for the environment.

Those that help, whether donating or being taught, are making a huge difference and impact on the homeless community. I want the homeless community to be able to feel more comfortable as they move around and doing this project will better them and the environment. I contacted a local food bank that would take a couple and the Tigard Police said they'd take a couple and pass out when they see a need. My advisor, who works at St. Anthony's, works with an outreach to the homeless and will be taking a majority of the mats.

A special thank you to my advisor, Gerlinde Lamer, for your help, guidance, patience, and keeping me on track. Also thank you for all you do to help the homeless in our community.