In spring of 2007 a group of 5th grade Girl Scouts coordinated a collection drive within the Whispering Willows Service Unit for Gulf Coast residents trying to rebuild their hurricane-damaged homes.  Eleven-year-old Junior Girl Scout Clare Urbanski discovered, “Girl Scouts teaches people to have fun while still helping others.”  Girl Scouts and their families contributed thousands of building supply items like leftover lumber or paint from household remodeling jobs for families in Mississippi and Louisiana. They decorated light switch covers and made flower boxes. “The girls tried to consider how they could help others when others were in need. They developed empathy, warmth and understanding,” said Girl Scout parent Bob Stuart. The collection drive wasn’t enough for these Junior Girl Scouts. They decided to drive down and hand-deliver thousands of items during their spring break, spending days on the Mississippi Gulf Coast restoring homes and hope. According to Junior Girl Scout Joanane Hoggatt, “We were able to build houses and help people because . . . either their home was blown away or their house was smashed up and they weren’t able to live there.”  Grace Urbanski, a parent of one of these remarkable girls commented, “Our family couldn’t possibly have been involved in a community service project like this without Girl Scouts.”