Shelving Summer

STARRY’s Counseling Program lobby just got a lot more entertaining, thanks to the hard work of Round Rock Girl Scout Troop 2360.

“We had always known about STARRY and its work with children in the community,” said Judy Oskam, mom of one of the scouts. “We always thought this could be a good option for a bronze award project.”

The highest honor for a Girl Scout Junior, the bronze award requires troops to choose a project and complete it with hands-on involvement.

“We took the idea for the book nook to the girls and they just ran with it,” said Judy.

Not only did they come up with color schemes and design concepts, but the troop, with an average age of 10, drafted its own blue prints to share with one of the girl’s dads, who is a carpenter. The project was funded by the girls’ cookie sales.

Thanks to the ingenuity of the troop, the donation of labor and some adult guidance by troop leader Judy Marshall, the girls succeeded in transforming a forgotten lobby corner into a reading oasis.

“The book nook makes the lobby a homier, happier place,” said Theresa Hardy, STARRY Volunteer Coordinator. “The girls decorated the walls with decals and bright colors. It looks fantastic.”
 
But the investment doesn’t stop there.  

“Before starting the project, we made the girls promise that they would continue to provide books for the book nook even into their high school years,” said Judy.
 
The troop plans to pass on its contribution to future troops, hoping they will also stock the bookshelves with new and gently used books for all ages. But the project was about more than just community service.
 
“We wanted the girls to learn, not just about STARRY and the wonderful work it does, but about space, budgets and planning,” Judy said. “We hope that projects like this will help them in the future.”

Troop 2360 already has plans to achieve its Silver Award by decorating the other side of the Counseling lobby.
 
“We want to do a lot more with STARRY,” Judy continued. “It’s a place where our girls can see children their own age being helped, served and loved.”

Theresa and other STARRY staff welcome the enthusiasm brought by the troop. It’s that kind of commitment she says keeps STARRY going.

“We couldn’t do or have some of the things we do without the generosity of the community,” she said. “It helps us give the kids that little bit extra that they deserve.”