Family Promise starts Girl Scout troops for girls in shelter system – NJ.com

Girl Scout troops are formed based on the geographic location of their members; where a girl resides determines which troop she joins. But, what if a girl doesn’t have a place to call home?

Two years ago in New York City, a single mother and Girl Scout employee lost her home. While living in a shelter, she had the idea to create a Girl Scout troop for the girls residing there. Her idea took hold and in New York City there are now troops serving girls in shelter systems in all five boroughs.

The Greater New York model — which receives funding from donors and the Girl Scouts organization — offers girls in the shelter system “valuable friendship, leadership opportunities and experiences while coping with the challenges of unstable living conditions.”

The Greater New York model is being mimicked and similar troops are popping up across the country.

In New Jersey, the idea was appealing to the folks at Summit-based Family Promise, which works to help families facing a housing crisis regain independence. Access to community programs is one opportunity the nonprofit offers the families it serves.

Family Promise CEO Claas Ehlers said, “Programs like this are an integral part of the fabric of American childhood, and anyone who has been involved in Girl Scouts will attest to the profound impact it has on a girl’s development.” He added, “Family Promise already had so many components in place to make this possible. It just made sense.”

Ehlers reached out to Nicole Warren, community programs manager for Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey to inquire about establishing a Family Promise troop. Once Warren began talking to Family Promise Affiliates in the area, she realized there was enough interest to form two troops.

In the fall, the nonprofit started one troop in Union County and another in Essex County. The seven-member Troop 56002 meets at the Family Promise day center in Montclair and the 11-member Troop 56003 meets at the Family Promise day center in Elizabeth.

The Family Promise troops, whose members range in age from 4 to 15, include girls whose families are currently served by or have graduated from Family Promise’s emergency shelter program. Troop leaders are Family Promise staffers, Scout moms and community volunteers.

At the kick-off meeting last fall, the girls received uniforms, backpacks, Girl Scout pins, and other supplies, all provided by the Girl Scouts.

So far, the Scouts have spent a night “camping” at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City and attended a performance and behind-the-scenes tour of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. They also completed “Cookie Rookie” training, a workshop that teaches new Scouts “everything they need to know about selling Girl Scout cookies.” Family Promise Girl Scouts, who are currently ringing door bells to sell cookies, intend to set up cookie booths in Union and Essex counties in the spring.

Among the adventures on the horizon for the Family Promise Girl Scouts is Girl Scout Day Camp this summer, with the Girl Scout organization providing supplies such as bathing suits, sunscreen and transportation to and from camp. The Scouts also have plans to share activities with other local troops.

Geleen Donovan, executive director of Family Promise-Union County, believes scouting offers the girls opportunities to develop skills and enjoy experiences such as practicing outdoor survival skills at summer camp or learning how to make a sales pitch and track orders at cookie sales training, which are usually beyond the means of low-income families.

“These girls have never experienced anything like this,” Donovan said. “Scouting has the potential to open many doors for them.”

Girl Scouts also offers the girls some stability during a tumultuous time. “Losing one’s home – or being at risk of losing your home – often takes families by surprise and is especially traumatic for children,” Donovan said. “Scout activities and outings give the girls something to look forward to and help counterbalance the temporary struggles they’re facing,” she added.

Brenda Myrick, director of social services at the Family Promise Affiliate in Essex County and a volunteer with that troop, concurs. “The girls are really enjoying themselves,” she said, but adds that they also encounter challenges Girl Scouts don’t typically face. “Attendance can be tricky,” said Myrick. “Changes in parents’ work schedules, transportation, child care issues – these are all things that have a big impact on low-income families and can affect whether or not a girl can participate.”

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” the mother of one Scout said. “We could never have afforded to do this on our own.”

Ehlers said it should be understood that many people experiencing homelessness have jobs and often work more than 40 hours a week. He noted, “Volunteers in our programs quickly learn some people are working two jobs.”

He added that families and children experiencing homelessness run the gamut from those with an elementary education to those with master’s degrees. He said, “There are so many different ways things can go wrong for families and it’s difficult to rebound. For many people, if income stopped or if there were to be a gap, it wouldn’t be long before they’d be in trouble.”

Founded in Summit in 1988, Family Promise is a national federated nonprofit organization that works to address the issue of family homelessness. Comprised of more than 200 affiliates in 43 states, Family Promise engages 200,000 volunteers who “want to make a difference in the lives of families in need.” The organization offers a holistic approach to helping families and children experiencing homelessness. The three-pronged approach includes homelessness prevention programs, provision of emergency shelter and post-housing stabilization. In 2017, the organization serve 93,000 individuals. For more information about Family Promise, go to www.familypromise.org.