By Theresa Knapp

Girl Scouts Norah Williamson, Ayla Williamson, and Caylee Smith digging the holes for the sign they erected at the United Parish of Upton and Upton Food Pantry. Courtesy photo

 UPTON - Girl Scout Cadettes Caylee Smith, Norah Williamson, and Ayla Williamson of Upton Troop 64528 recently earned their Silver Award by designing and building a sign for the United Parish of Upton and Upton Food Pantry.  

The Silver Award is the highest award a Cadette (middle school-aged) can earn in Girl Scouts, and only 10% of registered Cadette Girl Scouts achieve this award. 

“We are so thankful to Upton's Girl Scout Troop 64528 for this sign, as its impact will be a lasting one for our food pantry, church, and community,” said Food Pantry Coordinator Amy Griswold, noting the sign is strategically placed facing out toward the town common. They have seen an immediate impact of being able to advertise current needs on the sign. 

“Within a day or two of our first posted request, we had people dropping off donations,” said Griswold. “Our goal is to change the sign monthly, asking for 3-4 specific items that are in high demand. In the past, we have relied on social media, or word of mouth to ask for donations, so the addition of an outdoor sign that reaches so many community members driving by is an amazing tool for our advertising. For the patrons, all of this just adds to what we are able to offer them when they visit. Food insecurity remains a huge issue in communities large and small.  Every donation, no matter the size, has an immediate impact for someone, somewhere.”

Norah Williamson said the scouts were familiar with the food pantry because they had donated Girl Scout cookies to it in the past. “We had heard there were often things the food pantry didn’t have enough of.  We thought a sign would help let people know what things are needed because we already send other messages to the community by posting messages on the Public Safety sign in front of the fire station (we repaired that sign a few years ago for our Girl Scout Bronze Award project).” 

Caylee Williamson said, “Our goal with this project was to better our community by bringing awareness to the food pantry and its needs. We wanted to spread information outside just church members to bring more help and attention to it. The more people we can help, the better.”

To earn a Silver Award, each Cadette had to log at least 50 hours of work on the project, which had to be sustainable in nature and benefit the community. Before they began, they submitted a project proposal to the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts Council. 

Troop leader Coreen Williamson said the process included meeting with church officials as well as town, county, and state officials. The scouts also wrote letters to abutters and attended a ZBA hearing because “the size of the planned sign was outside the regulations for the zone it was in.” 

The scouts met with their carpentry advisor, Bill Andrews, to take measurements and create design ideas, shopped for materials, sourced donated parts such as plexiglass for the door, sheet metal for the magnetic board, and PVC for all the outer covering. 

“The girls then got to work building their sign using several types of saws, drills, handheld tools, and lots of other carpentry items,” Williamson said, noting the scouts called Dig Safe to be sure they wouldn’t disturb any underground utilities.

Once the sign was built and planted in the ground, there was a dedication and blessing ceremony during a Sunday worship service. 

Girl Scouts Norah Williamson, Caylee Smith, and Ayla Williamson positioning the new sign they built for the United Parish of Upton and Upton Food Pantry. Courtesy photo

 Ayla Williamson said, “I really enjoyed presenting in front of the church after we completed our project. Putting in all of the hard work for building the sign, and having everyone thank us, made me feel very proud that we spent the time to help people in need.”

Brian Le Suer with the church said he was also thrilled with the new sign. “We are extremely proud that these three girls found the time in their busy lives filled with school and extracurricular activities to reach out and serve the needs of their community.” 

The scouts submitted a final report to the Girl Scout Council about the process of their project and how they each took on leadership roles and individual responsibilities. They reported on the sustainability of their project, a major requirement of the Girl Scout Silver Award.