Local Girl Scouts donate stuffed animals to EMS

A group of adults and Girl Scouts pose indoors with stuffed animals in front of a decorated Christmas tree and large window.

A person holds a Girl Scouts "Junior First Aid" badge featuring a needle, band-aid, and first aid supplies on a card.On Wednesday, Estes Park Girl Scout Troop #70449 delivered 63 stuffed animals to the local EMS staff, purchased with $500 in proceeds from their cookie sales. The troop hopes these stuffed animals will provide comfort and emotional support to children who may feel scared or are experiencing pain and discomfort during emergency situations.

A group of Girl Scouts is sorting through donations in a lobby. Adults observe and assist.The troop, made up of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade girls, raised funds by selling an impressive 6,542 packages of cookies to support their community service projects and cover other troop expenses. The decision to donate stuffed animals came from the girls’ strong desire to help other children and make a positive impact in their community. They understood that while medical teams provide critical care, emotional support is just as important, especially for children who may not fully understand the situation at hand.

A group of young girls in brown vests proudly display badges they earned. They are standing indoors against a plain wall.Each girl in the troop shared a personal connection to the project, recalling a time when they had received a kind gesture while they were sick or injured that helped comfort them. Whether it was a stuffed animal, a warm blanket, or a simple kind word, the girls remembered how much these small acts of kindness made them feel better during a difficult time. They wanted to pass that same feeling on to others, knowing how important it is for children to feel safe and cared for, especially during an emergency.

A person wearing a festive sweater holds a patch that says, "FEED, HELP, BUILD, SUPPORT, DONATE, VOLUNTEER, GIRL SCOUTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE.Throughout the cookie season, the girls set a goal to raise enough funds to purchase the stuffed animals. Thanks to the support of local families, friends, and community members, they successfully met their goal and were able to purchase the plush toys from Stuffed, a store that offered a generous discount to the troop, allowing them to purchase even more stuffed animals than initially planned.

A person holds a Girl Scouts Brownie First Aid patch with an image of a cat wearing a bandage, labeled "SOS.The paramedics who received the donation expressed their gratitude and explained how valuable stuffed animals can be for calming and comforting children in distressing situations.

A person in uniform speaks to a group of children sitting on benches near a decorated Christmas tree indoors.A group of children in uniforms and an elf costume gather around a box in an indoor setting, with adults standing nearby.During the delivery, the girls also had the opportunity to tour an ambulance, gaining a firsthand look at the equipment used in emergencies. They shared some of the knowledge they had recently acquired while working on their First Aid badges, which they received later that same day.

Children in uniform gather around a clear bin filled with various items, as several adults in coats stand nearby in a room with wooden flooring.A group of seven young girls in brown vests proudly display various badges in a room. Some are smiling, and others are raising their badges in the air.As the girls continue their scouting journey, they are eager to take on more community service projects, knowing that their actions can inspire others and make a lasting difference in the lives of those around them. This donation is just one example of how the Girl Scouts are spreading kindness, and their efforts are clearly making a positive impact—one stuffed animal at a time.

A group of adults and children pose outside, some holding small plush toys. They are standing on a pavement, with a building and trees in the background.