by Kristina Gabalski
For her Silver Award, Allyson Wentworth made neck scarves and hats which she sold at a sale at Hope Hall and her church. She recently donated the proceeds to Linda’s Cupboard at Hope Hall. Sister Diana accepted the donation at a recent gathering at the school. Provided photoThirteen-year-old Allyson Wentworth of Spencerport has raised an impressive sum of money to help those in need this holiday season.
Through her Silver Award project for Girl Scouts, Allyson raised more than $2,700 for a local food pantry.
Allyson is a cadet from Troop #172 Spencerport Service Unit. A Silver Award Project requires the completion of a community project that reaches outside the Girl Scouts. At least 40 hours of planning and execution are also required.
The journey towards her Silver Award began two years ago and her actual project work began about six months ago, Allyson and her family say.
“Allyson’s proposition was to raise money for Linda’s Cupboard, a food pantry that is located at Hope Hall,” says Pam Wentworth, Allyson’s mom.
Allyson’s sister, Haley, attends Hope Hall – which is a non-denominational school in Gates. Hope Hall works with children who have fallen behind in a traditional school setting, Pam explains.
“Allyson proposed making and selling over 40 ‘gators’ – neck scarves – all of which were cut, sewn and finished by herself,” Pam says.
Allyson also assisted her mom in making over 100 tassel hats to sell at the annual Hope Hall Holiday Sale December 3. She also sold the neck gators and hats at her family’s church – the Church of the Epiphany on Buffalo Road.
“Donations of materials were generously provided by Margaret Magin of Girl Scouts Spencerport Service Unit,” Pam says.
Each gator took Allyson about one half hour to make and each hat about one hour. She sold the gators for $5 each and the hats for $10 each.
A selection of the 100 tassel hats and over 40 “gators” – neck scarves sold with proceeds going to Linda’s Cupboard.The sale of the gators and hats raised over $850. “Allyson also reached out to others for matching contributions,” Pam says. She received a matching gift from Drew Hoselton and Hoselton Auto Mall and an additional $1,000 contribution from her Aunt Robin and Uncle Tim Wentworth.
“Her total raised for Linda’s Cupboard was $2,719.10,” Pam says.
The family says all money raised from the sale of gators and hats is being donated to Linda’s Cupboard. The balance of the hats were donated to the Wilmot Cancer Center for patients undergoing cancer treatment and in need of a warm fleece hat when they return home.
“We are proud that she took on such a project,” Pam adds. “She learned to organize, produce and bring a project to a grand conclusion – a project that helps others in great need at a time when the need is the greatest. I’m so very proud of Allyson, she is truly an amazing young lady. She is an asset to Girl Scouts and her community.”
