December 16 , 2021 The Beacon • 23

By Marianne Austin

Local Girl Scout troops combined their efforts to bring some Christmas cheer to less fortunate children in the community this year . The girls met at Grace United Methodist Church on Dec . 6 to wrap gifts they purchased with their own troop money .

“ A few years ago , we did Operation Boxes to send overseas , and one of our girls asked , ‘ Why are we sending boxes overseas when we have kids right here that need stuff ?’” Scout leader Tammy Gray said .

Girl Scout Aries Hamilton said , “ You hear about everyone doing the shoe boxes that travel all over the world but not about the kids in your own town . So I thought about children in foster care . They don ’ t get to take anything with them when they go into foster care . If someone gave them things , they would get to have their own stuff . They could say , ‘ Somebody cared about me and gave me gifts for Christmas .’ I know about people who have been in foster care , and they have always cried that they don ’ t have anything of their own to

Marianne Austin

Girl Scout Aries Hamilton wanted to help children in her own community this year .

take with them .

“ So we went shopping for anything we thought boys and girls might like . It was easier shopping for girls because I ’ m a

girl and I am over the moon about this . I ’ m so excited that I got to participate .”

Alyssa Warne , a junior at the Coshocton County Career Center

Marianne Austin

Local Girl Scout troops combined their efforts to bring some Christmas cheer to less fortunate children in the community this year .

and an eight-year member of Girl Scouts , said they went to Walmart and got a bunch of goodies for the kids . “ It made us feel great , very helpful ,” she said . “ It ’ s been fun .”

Tony Palmer , Wal-Tus-Gum service unit manager for all of Coshocton County , was on hand to help with the gift wrapping as well .

Girl Scout troops 669 , 8169 and 2625 made gift boxes for

all the 67 children in Coshocton County in foster care .

“ I reached out to Coshocton County Family Services , and they gave me ages and genders , so we are doing ages 0-18 years in the county . Everyone in foster care will get a box . I will be dropping them off at JFS , and they will disperse them . All money for the gifts came from troop money ,” Gray said .