Girl Scouts Make Dolls for Operation Smile
By: Andrew Barra WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: January 26, 2013
BLOOMINGTON - Most know them for their famous cookies.
But on Saturday, Twin Cities Girl Scouts embarked on a different mission.
They're creating a one of a kind gift that's giving children something to smile about.
High school Freshman Sabrinia Self believes life is a little better, when you lend a hand.
"I like doing this kind of stuff," said Self. "It is always really fun to help out other people. It's kind of a passion of mine."
She's one of many Twin Cities Girl Scouts doing just that on Saturday, with a needle and a bit of thread.
"The girls are coming together as a day of service for Operation Smile," said Kathleen Schwitzner of Girl Scouts of Central Illinois. "They're sewing together little dolls that will go to this organization that helps children with cleft palate."
The girls take part in an assembly line to make the dolls.
Schwitzner said, "They are going through the process of tracing and cutting out their dolls, sewing them together, stuffing them, and finsihing them up."
When finished, these dolls and blankets will be going to children who are awaiting surgery for facial deformities like cleft palate.
"It's terrifying - having something like that would be excruciating, and getting something like this would be really nice," said Self. "Knowing that people are supporting you is fantastic."
For the girls, this is more than helping people out. They are making new friends, and learning new skills, while creating the dolls.
"I get to see friends that I haven;t seen in a while that are in my troop," said Girl Scout Elissa Howard. "Then, I can help my friends meet new friends when I am meeting new friends as well."
"We've seen a lot of girls today, and this is the first time they have been at a sewing machine, or this is maybe multiple exposures for them," said Schwitzner. "They have really enjoyed the process of creating something and finishing it all the way through, and now, they're happy to send them off to another child."
Each year - the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois put on two to three service projects.
Operation Smile helps fund free surgeries for children with cleft palate and other facial deformities.
But on Saturday, Twin Cities Girl Scouts embarked on a different mission.
They're creating a one of a kind gift that's giving children something to smile about.
High school Freshman Sabrinia Self believes life is a little better, when you lend a hand.
"I like doing this kind of stuff," said Self. "It is always really fun to help out other people. It's kind of a passion of mine."
She's one of many Twin Cities Girl Scouts doing just that on Saturday, with a needle and a bit of thread.
"The girls are coming together as a day of service for Operation Smile," said Kathleen Schwitzner of Girl Scouts of Central Illinois. "They're sewing together little dolls that will go to this organization that helps children with cleft palate."
The girls take part in an assembly line to make the dolls.
Schwitzner said, "They are going through the process of tracing and cutting out their dolls, sewing them together, stuffing them, and finsihing them up."
When finished, these dolls and blankets will be going to children who are awaiting surgery for facial deformities like cleft palate.
"It's terrifying - having something like that would be excruciating, and getting something like this would be really nice," said Self. "Knowing that people are supporting you is fantastic."
For the girls, this is more than helping people out. They are making new friends, and learning new skills, while creating the dolls.
"I get to see friends that I haven;t seen in a while that are in my troop," said Girl Scout Elissa Howard. "Then, I can help my friends meet new friends when I am meeting new friends as well."
"We've seen a lot of girls today, and this is the first time they have been at a sewing machine, or this is maybe multiple exposures for them," said Schwitzner. "They have really enjoyed the process of creating something and finishing it all the way through, and now, they're happy to send them off to another child."
Each year - the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois put on two to three service projects.
Operation Smile helps fund free surgeries for children with cleft palate and other facial deformities.
