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 MAJOR DOUG WILLIAMS helps a young volunteer load a donation into a ARC truck. |
BY MARLENE GERBER –
The Be Your Best and Do a Good Turn 2002 clothing drive, a joint project of the San Diego ARC and Girl Scouts, generated enough donations to clothe, well, an army–a very large Army!
The massive countywide effort brought in 101.2 tons of donations, topping even last year’s record. The event marked the sixth time that Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council and The Salvation Army have partnered on this community service project. Some 9,500 Girl Scouts took part in Be Your Best and Do a Good Turn, as did hundreds of people in the communities surrounding each of the seven donation sites.
“Helping hands for our community,” Major Doug Williams, San Diego ARC administrator said, “became more than a slogan, as the girls helped unload donors’ cars and vans and kept the flow of bags going onto The Salvation Army trucks.” From the youngest “Daisy,” to the oldest teen-aged senior troopers, all were committed to being their best and doing a good turn.
The project also taught Girl Scouts about substance abuse prevention and recycling–both material and people. Girls toured the ARC recycling/work therapy center, and saw how donated goods are recycled and readied for thrift store sales, which support the recovery program.
They also met with residents at the Rehabilitation Center, and heard not only how drugs and alcohol affected their own lives and that of their loved ones, but also how the residents are benefiting from the program and what they now plan to do with their lives.
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