Millstone Girl Scouts earn the bronze Animal Fun Day proves successful for the girls and their community BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer CHRIS KELLY staff East Windsor’s John Hudgins, 2, takes a ride on Lucky, while visiting the Handicapped High Rider Club at Riding High Farm in Allentown on June 12. MILLSTONE — Their love of animals kicked off a campaign to help local nonprofits. During their quest for the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Junior Girl Scout Troop 1561 of Millstone created Animal Fun Day and learned how two local nonprofit organizations provide important community services for those in need. Troop 1561 consists of Mary Babin, Tara Daly, Jeanna Copa, Samantha Giffen, Taylor Lee, Andrea Malleo, Danielle Rivas, Vanessa Rivas, Alexandra Rivas and Victoria Sharp. Millstone’s Junior Girl Scout Troop 1561 members Alexandra Rivas, Danielle Rivas, Jeanna Coppa, Vanessa Rivas, Andrea Malleo, Tara Daly, Samantha Giffen, Mary Babin and Victoria Sharp enjoy the company of Furry Angels Coco and Totu during Animal Fun Day in Millstone on June 4. “I am very proud of all of them,” said Laura Giffen, the troop’s leader. “They did a great job.” According to Giffen, striving for the Girl Scout Bronze Award helps teach Scouts teamwork, leadership skills and responsibility. “Above all, the girls learned the value of community service,” Giffen said. “Not only did they find out what they can do to help, but they also found that there are places in the community where they can go to contribute their time and talents to helping others.” Giffen said the 10 girls in the troop, ages 10-11, decided to hold Animal Fun Day on May 28 at the township’s municipal building for two special reasons. “The goal, as a troop,” Giffen said, “was to educate the community about two special organizations and the work they do to make a difference in the lives of others.” As a result of Animal Fun Day, according to Giffen, the troop raised enough money to buy and donate pet food and supplies for Adopt-A-Pet in Millstone, and to donate and plant annuals and shrubs at Riding High Farms in Allentown, home of the Handicapped High Riders Club. Adopt-A-Pet, a nonprofit organization, takes in stray, neglected and abused animals and works to find them good homes, Giffen said. The Handicapped High Riders Club, another nonprofit organization, provides therapy to children with disabilities through horseback-riding lessons. The idea for the Bronze Award project, Giffen said, came about when the Scouts realized they all had a deep love of and appreciation for animals. “There was a lot of discussion among the group, and we decided to visit the Handicapped High Riders,” Giffen said. “After the girls saw the unbelievable things this stable was doing for disabled children, they wanted to do something special for it.” Because the stable is run by volunteers, Giffen said its workers don’t have the time to do “little things.” “The girls looked around the stable and decided they would make it look nicer for the students who visited there by planting flowers,” Giffen said. After deciding to help the Handicapped High Riders, Giffen said the girls watched a video and talked to members of Adopt-A-Pet about a project called the Furry Angels. “[Furry Angels volunteers] take dogs to nursing homes,” Giffen said. “The girls learned all about the therapeutic abilities animals have,” Giffen said. “After learning about Adopt-A-Pet, the girls decided their project would be two-fold.” For Animal Fun Day, the Scouts baked goods and made crafts to sell, according to Giffen. The girls also invited guest speakers from both organizations to inform those in attendance about services they provide. “Rachel Johnson-Keller, director of The Handicapped High Riders, shared information about the programs at Riding High stables in Allentown,” Giffen said. “We learned how horses are used therapeutically to brighten the lives of handicapped children and how volunteers help to make it possible.” Sharon Gaboff of Adopt-A-Pet spoke about her organization and Furry Angels, a group of volunteers that brings its pets to hospitals and nursing homes. “They bring a smile or a cuddle to those who need it most,” Giffen said. Giffen said attendees of Animal Fun Day were delighted to meet some of the Furry Angel volunteers and pets such as Mocha, Shadow, Coco, Kiwi and Totu. “We also had a raffle and gave away prizes, and there were many activities families could enjoy,” Giffen said. Giffen said the day would not have been as successful without the help of the other troop leaders — Susan Daly, Regina Rivas, Vini Malleo and Donna Copa — and area sponsors such as Penny’s Petals in Clarksburg, the Millstone Family Pharmacy in Perrineville and Rifkin Farms in Manalapan, as well as others who contributed goods. Giffen said she hopes other people in the community will follow the lead of the Scouts and contribute goods or some spare time to the organizations. For more information about Adopt-A-Pet, call (732) 462-5184. For more information about the Handicapped High Riders Club, call (609) 259-3884.