Staff Writer
ISLAND FALLS — Inside the fat three-ring binder, neatly-printed pages detail Samantha Emery’s work. But the real story of her Girl Scout community service isn’t in plastic page protectors; it’s in newly-improved emergency shelters in Island Falls.
Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume
HIGHEST AWARD — Samantha Emery shares a big smile with the crowd as she receives her “Gold Award,” the highest award in Girl Scouts, from Troop Leader Alice Beaulieu.
“Sam’s done a great job,” says Paul Breton, the town’s emergency management director.
Emery received her Gold Award, the highest Girl Scout honor, during a special ceremony on Saturday and her work for that award involved the town’s emergency shelters. Island Falls currently has two — one at the municipal building and one at the neighboring VFW. A blanket drive, organized by Emery, helped collect over 100 blankets that were cleaned and prepared for use in the shelters. Two wheelchairs and four walkers were designated; containers were packed with items for community use at the shelter.
Pamphlets with information about the shelters and what to do in case of a disaster were created and given to every resident in town. (Copies are currently available at the town office.) Agreements were made with Jerry’s Thriftway and Agape Food Pantry to supply food in the event of a community-wide crisis, and a food drive for the food pantry was held.
Breton, who has been the town’s emergency management director since 2006, said working with the Girl Scouts taught him plenty, as well. He added that the project has made a real difference in the community.
“You sparked a huge amount of interest within the community,” he said.
The emergency shelter work isn’t all Emery did to earn the top honors.
“Earning the Gold Award is a long process that takes a lot of time,” said Alice Beaulieu, Emery’s troop leader. “Samantha worked very hard … and was dedicated to getting this job done.”
Appreciation was extended to all those who helped with the project, including those who donated money, blankets, food, wheelchairs, walkers and more.
The Gold Award project is just one of many community projects Emery has completed during her years with the Girl Scout organization. The daughter of Bessie and Butch Emery of Island Falls, she started out as a Brownie Troop member in 1998. As a member of Troop 548, she has completed various training, like first-aid, babysitting and emergency preparation; she’s also participated in events like the “Jamboree on the Trail” and “World Thinking Day.”
Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume
CONGRATS, SIS — Samantha Emery, center, accepts congratulations from siblings Heather and Joseph after Samantha received Girl Scouting’s highest honor, the Gold Award, during a special pinning ceremony on Saturday. She is the daughter of Bessie and Butch Emery of Island Falls.
