Girl Scouts Collecting Items For Animal Care Organizations

Newtown Middle School eighth graders Julia Reczek and Olivia Fadus, members of Newtown Girl Scout Troop 50763, are collecting towels, blankets, and bed sheets for local animal organizations as part of their Girl Scout Silver Award project. 

Both girls love animals and say they wanted to do a project that would involve helping with the care of dogs and cats. The Girl Scouts contacted several local veterinary clinics, shelters, and animal hospitals and found a real need for towels and blankets. 

The animal shelters use towels, sheets, and blankets for bathing and caring for the animals along with lining cages and beds. The donations, which should be laundered, can be dropped off anytime during business hours at multiple locations. Labeled collection boxes decorated with animals have been set up at Your Healthy Pet, Caraluzzi’s, Newtown Middle School, C.H. Booth Library, and Reed Intermediate School. Flyers for the collection are located near each box, and items will be accepted through May 29.

 The Girl Scout Cadettes are being advised by their Girl Scout Leader Teresa Nunes.  They girls have been working on the Silver Award for the last three months, and began by contacting all the animal shelters and clinics in Newtown and Danbury and discussing the needs of their animals. 

“We narrowed down everyone’s request to money, food, and towels/blankets. Since we didn’t want to just collect money, and there are other activities during the year to collect food, we decided on the towels and blankets,” said Julia. “We visited DAWS [Danbury Animal Welfare Society] and had a tour with the public relations person there. She told us more about their organization and how important donations and public support was in helping the animals find a forever home.”