Hoover High School Senior Leona turned her belief that everyone should have access to a stocked pantry and basic necessities into her Girl Scout Gold Award Project. The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and challenges Girl Scouts to create a lasting solution to an issue in their community. By working with GUSD’s Student Wellness Department, Leona developed a sustainable solution to help keep the department’s pantry stocked for students and families in need. 

The Student Wellness pantry provides food and essential items to GUSD families experiencing food insecurity, including families experiencing homelessness and students in foster care. As the pantry continued to serve more families, Leona saw an opportunity to help the department maintain a more consistent supply of donations. 

“I believe that everyone should have access to a stocked pantry and the basic necessities to be comfortable and focus well in school,” said Leona. “You never know what the people around you are struggling with or experiencing at home.” 

Over the course of more than 90 volunteer hours, Leona secured three new community partners to support the pantry and created a video that the department can use to recruit additional partners moving forward. Hoping to broaden the ways community members can support GUSD families, she assembled a donation guide for individuals interested in contributing food and other necessities to the pantry. 

To ensure her work lives on beyond the Gold Award project, Leona reorganized the pantry’s inventory system and created a resource binder to help the department update and use her materials in the future. 

“I really hope my work will provide comfort and security for the families in GUSD, so students are able to achieve their fullest potential at school and don’t have to worry about whether they’re going to have food on the table,” Leona said. “I hope that GUSD continues to be a place where they feel safe and secure.” 

As she prepares for graduation, Leona plans to attend a four-year university and explore her interests in science and STEM.

“I’m excited to explore different options and find what’s right for me,” Leona said. “I’ll definitely be taking all the leadership and organizational skills I’ve learned from this project into my future.”

Congratulations, Leona, on earning your Girl Scout Gold Award and creating a lasting resource for GUSD students and families. We are proud of your leadership, compassion, and commitment to making a difference in your community!