Eastern Shore Parents May 2020 | Page 13

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama Launches Initiative to Serve Youth During the COVID-19 Crisis Even non-members can now access Girl Scout programming from home during these challenging times. Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama (GSSA) is excited to have officially launched resources to serve youth during this time of crisis and isolation. While the organization has suspended in-person activities and events, due to the spread of COVID-19, they can still participate in a collection of Virtual Programs, Girl Scouts at Home, and activities designed to keep them engaged. COVID-19 has school- aged children across the state and country confined to their homes, limiting their activities and changing how they are learning. GSSA's new Virtual Programs give children access to exciting new content Monday-Friday and offer an array of options from getting outdoors to learning about life skills and STEM. In fact, they’ve even teamed up with the Alabama Farmers Federation, Alabama Forestry Association and NASA, to produce quality content for their viewers. Each activity allows children to engage in a new way and help them build critical skills all from the comfort of their home. “As the expert on girls, GSSA is uniquely poised to help girls and their families adapting to a new reality, says Karlyn Edmonds, GSSA CEO. “Our new Virtual Programs offer a one- stop-shop format that lets both members and the public enjoy a variety of activities.” And to ensure our youth are getting the tools they need to become our world’s ambitious change-makers, the organization also launched Girl Scouts at Home, a national online platform where families—even non-members—can access free, self-guided activities. The age-specific activities for all grade levels are delivered through guided videos, text- based instructions, and downloadable information, making it seamless for families to incorporate into their daily lives. More program-based options will be added in the coming weeks, allowing girls to earn badges, tune in to live virtual events and connect online for troop meetings and projects. 11 Subway in Fairhope Donates Bagged Lunches to School Aged Children Owners Matt and Sally Miller, owners of Subway in Fairhope, found an amazing way to serve the community during the COVID-19 crisis. The Millers worked with their team and began offering bagged lunches to school aged children affected by the Covid-19 crisis on scheduled Thursdays. While the first round of lunches was sponsored by the Fairhope Subway owners, others saw what they were doing and wanted to jump in and help also. Matt and Sally were contacted by the Kiwanis Club, Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church and another anonymous donor in honor of the Bayside Class of 2020. What a wonderful way to give back during this tough time. Thank you to all involved! www.facebook.com/easternshoreparentsmagazine