Millstone Scouts act on world concern Troop 21 collects 465 pairs of shoes for people in Haiti BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer The world has enough resources to provide for all those who live in need, but the problem is that most people just don't share. SCOTT FRIEDMAN Gretta Ahern, 8, of Millstone Township Girl Scout Troop 21, gets some support from her dog, Delta, while preparing more than 450 pairs of shoes for people in need in Haiti at the Ahern residence in Millstone Nov. 4. The 12 girls in Millstone Township Girl Scout Troop 21 recently proved how easy it is to give and right some of the wrongs in society with their collection of new and slightly used shoes for the people in one of the poorest countries in the world - Haiti. The country is plagued with problems such as its large population in a small area, a long history of political oppression, the spread of HIV and AIDS, and an overall lack of educational and literacy resources. The Scouts focused their efforts on helping the country's youth who are denied an education if they do not have shoes. "Our troop collected over 450 pairs of shoes for them," Ella Ahern, 10, said. "We put up fliers in the schools and at church, and the project was a big hit." PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Millstone Township Girl Scout Troop 21's Alexandra Sosa, 8, (l-r) Nadia Ramos, 8, and Tina Garagano, 8, (left photo) tie pairs of shoes together while other members of the troop (right photo) work with ribbons and yarn at the Ahern residence in Millstone Nov. 4. Through Millstone Township schools, the troop collected 415 pairs of shoes, and through St. Rose of Lima Church in Freehold, it collected 50 more pairs. "Thank you!" Ella said to the people who helped Troop 21's cause. She continued, "We get pictures from Haiti of the people there wearing Millstone T-shirts, and now we will get pictures where we can see the shoes on their feet. The people will be happier now that they have shoes that fit and will last them a long time." The troop's co-leader, Kathleen Ahern, said, "In America we have such high standards and our kids have so much that we often lose sight that some people in the world don't even have shoes. "We need to help others any way we can," she added, "and it can be as simple as passing along our things sight that some people in the world don't even have shoes. "We need to help others any way we can," she added, "and it can be as simple as passing along our things and recycling what we use." Troop 21 has been around for four years, and its members have had many community service experiences together, though none as large in scale as this one. "We have done things like sang at nursing homes," Kathleen said, "but this year we decided to do more collections to give to those in need. Seeing the shoes in a big mound struck all of us." The troops learned a valuable lesson from the project, according to Kathleen. "They realized that it's not just you," she said. "They realized the generosity of all the people that helped make it come true. It's a great, overwhelming feeling." Kathleen said people often find it daunting to serve the less fortunate in the world, but they shouldn't. "You try to help one poor country and then you start thinking [that] there are so many more people in need out there," she said. "But you have to start somewhere and just know that it all makes a difference." Ella added, "I think you get a great sensation when you do something good and help people." The Scouts will ship the shoes to Haiti with the help of the St. Rose of Lima Haiti Committee, of which Kathleen Ahern is a member. The church began a twinning relationship in 2000 with a parish in Fond Pierre, Haiti. Since then, the generosity of parishioners at the church along with the Catholic Diocese of Richmond in Virginia has resulted in the creation of a working well with potable drinking water and the completion of a new school for the people in Fond Pierre. Throughout the year, St. Rose of Lima also sponsors collections of toiletries, school supplies, over-the-counter medications and other such items. It holds various fundraisers to meet other needs of the people in Haiti as well. The Scouts in Troop 21 recently used their talents to entertain guests at one of the "coffeehouse" fundraisers held by St. Rose of Lima. The event garnered $3,000 toward the church's shipping costs for the donations it collects for Haiti. "I hope Millstone will join us again next year in collecting summer shoes," Kathleen said, "and remember, hold on to your winter sneakers." On behalf of the Scouts, Kathleen said, "I want to extend a very sincere thank you to the Millstone community for their very generous hearts and timely efforts to reach out to those who struggle in trying to obtain their very basic human rights."