DI Girl Scouts donate $500 to Water Missions International

The devastating floods in South Carolina last year got members of Daniel Island-based Girl Scout Troop 705 thinking about water. What happens when you have too much…. and what happens when you have too little?

After beginning a “Wonders of Water” project, the girls began to ponder ways they could not only help their local community in the wake of the flooding, but also people in other parts of the world who may be suffering. In late February, they took a tour of Water Missions International in North Charleston to learn about the non-profit organization’s steadfast work to bring water to people in need in all corners of the globe.

“It meant a lot,” said troop member Cat Buckman, 11. “Sometimes you don’t really appreciate what you have and to see someone who has barely anything smacks you with reality. Because you don’t really think about when you’re throwing away the rest of your breakfast. Some people would die to have that. It was kind of shocking.”

“We learned about how they don’t have water all around the world,” added Cat’s sister and fellow troop member, Olivia, 8.

One of the younger troop members was so touched by what she saw in the facility that she got emotional, recalled Cat.

“There was a little girl in our group that cried,” she said, after the group saw photos of children getting clean drinking water. “She was just so happy they were doing that for them…It was such an awesome experience. All the girls were just kind of glued.”

“It was pretty cool to learn what they do to help people who don’t get clean water,” added Amelia Perkis, 8. A couple of weeks later, on March 12, they took part in WMI’s Annual “Walk for Water” in downtown Charleston. Again, as the participants carried buckets of water throughout the walk course, the impact hit home.

“We were kind of like ‘Wow, we haven’t really thought about all of this,”’ added Cat. “Of course you’ve heard your parents say ‘Don’t waste that (food), there are people in Africa that would want that!’ But until you actually see pictures and hear stories, you don’t really get it. It was really an interesting experience.”

As a result of what they learned, the girls were inspired to donate a portion of their 2016 Girl Scout cookie sales to WMI. They recently presented a check for $500 to the organization.

“Donating $500 means so much to the Girl Scout Troop as they understand this will help provide clean water to children just like them around the world!” said Carina Buckman, Brownie Troop 705 Leader and WMI Project Leader. “Children that will no longer have to walk long distances every day to collect dirty water that will make them sick. Instead they will now have the time and energy to go to school. Providing clean water gives hope for a brighter future! Our girl scouts know that we can all make a difference and that even a small difference can quite literally mean the world to someone, and that will always be worth the effort!”