Promoting Health
West Windsor-Plainsboro Junior Girl Scout Troop 677 assembled boxes of healthy foods and exercise-oriented toys for families at the Trenton Soup Kitchen (TASK) as part of Kids Care Week 2004. The 17 fourth and fifth grade girls are led by Louisa Ho, Tom Laresch, and Alka Chowdhari.
The youth project was part of the national Kids Care Club Eat Wise-Exercise project developed in response to the growing problem of childhood obesity. The goal of the program is to educate, empower, and enable kids to make healthy eating choices, increase physical activity, and engage in youth volunteer activities related to nutrition and exercise.
“Thanks to the generous support of Target Corporation and the Autumn Angels, a group of teens who promote volunteerism among youth and teens, over 40 grants were awarded to Kids Care Club,” says Ho, adding that Girl Scout Troop 677 received one of the $250 grants.
In addition to the scout leaders, other parents assisting with the project include Emily Townsend and Michael Donnelly. “We had the girls help with the shopping,” Townsend says. “We took small groups of girls shopping so they could learn what toys to buy and what food to buy.”
Girls in the troop include Sheila Huang, Rebecca Van Dyke, Shilvi Shah, Lauren Leahy, Nikita Barde, Megan Donnelly, Amy Laresch, Katie May, and Alison Aimers. Also, Katie Donnelly, Kimberly Kullmann, Lauren Kullman, Colleen Farrell, Priyanka Nischal, Priyanka, Chodhari, Kiley Barone, and Kelsey Townsend.
To learn more about Kids Care Club, visit www.kidscare.org or call 203-656-8052.
