One minute, 11 year old Temperance is running around the park playing with her friends and siblings, the next minute she becomes a self-assured young lady, speaking about her Girl Scout project.
Suzi Vasquez-Lopez, GSVSC leader, met at American Legion Park in Timberville, with one of her Scouts, Temperance Vandall, to talk about their latest project.
Passersby may have noticed a bright blue box adjacent to the road. It resembles the Little Free Libraries scattered around the area. This one is a little different though. Instead of holding books, behind the cheery yellow curtains in the window, the little house is bursting with non-perishable foodstuffs and supplies, free to people in need. The Blessings Box holds everything from canned goods to hygiene products and diapers, its contents vary on any given day. Anyone is free to take what they need, and also share what they can. Donations are welcome.
Temperance has been a Girl Scout for 7 years, and is a 6th grader at North Fork in Shenandoah County.
She said “My mom and I looked around for projects, and saw a lot of book boxes, but didn’t see any of these blessing boxes here. The hygiene products we put in are already gone, and we have to put more in. The sign inside says ‘take what you need, give what you can…’ ”
Her bright green Girl Scout vest is front and back covered with badges she has earned, and she said this is her 4th vest! Number 5 will be in the works soon, no doubt!
Since being installed at the park, Temperance was happy that steady streams of people have taken advantage of her project, as well as supplying donations.
Along with the help of her grandfather, Mike LaPrade, the Blessings Box was built and installed at this location, with the approval of the town of Timberville. It is easily seen from the road, with parking right there.
Temperance is already thinking of a future project, possibly a Little Free Library to accompany the Blessings Box. Stay tuned for what this young girl Scout has in store!
Girl Scout Troop 2056 has members from anywhere in Rockingham County, according to Vazquez-Lopez, “The troop is a multi-level troop from kindergarten to 11th grade. We have 21 girls, so we do 2 meetings, because of age groups. I run them both, alone! Temperance and I both discussed what would be beneficial for the area down here, and we talked about a blessing box. There is another in Timberville, on Church Street. This blessing box is for Temperance’s Bronze Award Project, a project that junior Girl Scouts do. They have to have a minimum of 25 hours community service to do it. It’s a stepping stone, there is also a Silver and a Gold Award. When they complete all 3, they can be offered scholarships. We had a lot of locals who donated to Temperance’s project – lumber, money, supplies, and of course, items to fill the completed box.”
The town planners agreed this was a perfect location, it’s accessible 24 hours a day, and the park is monitored with camera surveillance.
If you have a daughter who might be interested in joining the Girl Scouts, or think you might be interested in becoming a GS leader, Suzi is holding 2 recruitment events in October. She says “Girls can come by for fun crafts, etc. It is open to all girls/parents in the Broadway area, (from Timberville to Bergton) that may be interested in information about the Girl Scouts. They may contact me as well – Suzi Vasquez-Lopez, GSVSC Troop Leader at
“In My GS Era Event” Broadway/Timberville Oct 7th – 5pm-7pm Plains Community Center, Timberville, VA
“In My GS Era Event” – Broadway/Timberville – Oct 19th – 5pm-7pm Plains Community Center. Timberville, VA
The Blessings Box can be found at American Legion Park, 325 American Legion Drive, Timberville, VA (next to Plains Elementary School)
