Girl Scouts Step Up Across Western Pennsylvania

Courage in Action: How Girl Scouts Are Changing Communities

Girl Scouts across western Pennsylvania are building confidence, leading in their communities, and making a real difference every single day. We’re excited to share a few of the ways girls are putting their courage, confidence, and character into action.

Tackling Food Insecurity in Neighborhoods

Girl Scouts aren’t just learning about the world—they’re actively working to improve it. As food insecurity continues to affect families in our communities, Girl Scouts are stepping up in meaningful ways.

Local troops have been organizing food drives, supporting food pantries, and learning firsthand about the challenges their neighbors face. Troop 30663 toured the Kane Area Food Pantry to better understand its impact. The girls then worked with the pantry to redesign their logo and collect donations—an experience that gave them a firsthand look at the impact of community service.

Across the region, eight troops in Brockway supported their school district’s Weekend Backpack Program, which provides food and hygiene items to local families in need. Several troops from the Franklin area held a food drive at their service unit’s Friendsgiving event, while Troop 27119 in Brookville has led ongoing service efforts at their local pantry. Through these experiences, girls are learning empathy, problem-solving, and the power of community action.

Fighting Discrimination with Historic Remembrance 

For Westmoreland County Gold Award Recipient Lily Sassani, Holocaust remembrance was more than just history—it was a connection to the past, present, and future. To earn her Gold Award, Lily worked with the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh to create the Holocaust Education Girl Scout Patch Program, a patch-earning program that sought to educate about antisemitism, the Holocaust, and the role of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides in resisting the injustices of history. This curriculum not only taught history, but it also used Girl Scout values to combat discrimination and teach girls how to use what they’ve learned to fight injustice as they see it in their communities. Lily’s program will continue through the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, ensuring sustained efforts towards her goal for many years to come.

These stories are just a glimpse of the impact Girl Scouts are making every day across western Pennsylvania. When girls are given the opportunity to lead, serve, and explore, they grow into confident changemakers who strengthen our communities today—and shape a better tomorrow. Learn more at gswpa.org.