Santa’s Elves Need Help

By Susan Coney

Fourteen-year-old Girl Scout Kateleen Foy would like to invite children and their parents or chaperones to attend an afternoon of helping out Santa’s elves by making toys to be given to a holiday toy drive.

The workshop will take place on Sunday, November 20, from 3 to 4:30 pm at the St Rose Parish Hall. There are materials available for 30 children to participate in the workshop. All materials to make two wooden toys will be provided, as will a snack. Children will be able to choose between making a toy truck, car, plane, or boat. Each child attending the workshop will get to make one wooden toy to give away and one to keep. A $12 donation per child is appreciated to cover the cost of materials; parents attend free.

A Cadet Girl Scout from Troop 038, Kateleen is working toward her Silver Award. To complete the requirements for this award she must design and complete a service project. Kateleen first got the idea for the project while visiting her grandmother where she read a newspaper article about a similar toy workshop. She thought it would be a fun way to earn her Silver Award, which is one of the highest honors a Girl Scout may attain.

The service project requires the cadet to perform a minimum of 30 hours of community service and she must earn several other badges over approximately an 18-month to two-year time period. Part of the requirements of the project is for her to organize, market, and advertise a service project that will benefit her community. She scouted out sponsors such as Dunkin’ Donuts who offered to provide donuts and coffee for the Santa workshop. Costco gave Kateleen a store gift card entitling her to purchase supplies for the upcoming event. Danbury Ice Arena supplied passes to be given as prizes. Genpack Plastics donated plastic plates to help with the building of the toys. Kateleen commented, “This should be a fun time for parents and kids. The kids will learn about sharing. Everyone I approached to donate have given more than enough. They were all very generous to help with the project.”

Kateleen moved to Newtown about one year ago from New Jersey, but that has not stopped her from working, organizing, and following through with her service project. She has been involved in the Girl Scout organization since she was in the first grade.

Kateleen has enlisted the help of her younger sister Meagan, who is a Junior Girl Scout in Troop 594. Meagan’s troop will assist children in the construction of the toys and help to serve refreshments.

Santa Claus will make an appearance. He will collect newly made toys from the children and give each participant a goodie bag.

Those who are interested in attending may make reservations by calling Kateleen Foy at 364-1557.