Good things come in all shapes and sizes, and in different flavors, too. Sometimes, good things can occur when and where you least expect them, like through an unexpected connection or a partnership.
Just like troops across the nation, Troops 30093 and 33150 of the Girl Scouts Heart of the South meet regularly in Leflore County, Mississippi, to learn about leadership, building young ladies’ confidence and character.  They also participate in the famous cookie sale—a hands-on leadership and entrepreneurial program where girls learn goal setting, money management and business ethics.

But the Troops lacked a partner who could provide an essential element to the girls’ learning and development: an appropriate meeting space. For three years, a hospital generously donated space to the Scouts; however, the activities associated with fun and learning were not a good match with the hospital environment.

Down the street, the Boys and Girls Club of Leflore County provided after school activities during the school year, but did not have the resources to offer summer programming. With an underpaid and undertrained staff, old equipment and limited financial support, the club had serious problems  according to Jeremy Deming, Chief Professional Officer of the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Delta.
A grant from the Foundation for the Mid South allowed the Leflore Club to increase staff pay and expand its hours. The Club also began offering training for staff, as well as extending its programs throughout the summer.   “[The Club now has] the tools to better serve more children,” said Deming, and the benefits are extending beyond the current members.

The Foundation knew of the Troops’ situation and alerted their service unit manager, Deborah Harris, of the new and improved Club. According to Harris, the connection was a great opportunity to “bridge the gap between [their] groups.” The partnership provides the best of both worlds: an appropriate meeting place for the Girl Scout troops and opportunities for the girls at the Club to participate in the Scouts. According to Deming, the partnership would not have been possible a year earlier, before the improvements. “This was a win-win situation,” Deming said. As a result, both organizations’ memberships have increased. The Foundation understands the power of connecting communities and encouraging partnerships. Oftentimes, the ripple effects from an investment and the impact they have on communities have longevity, much longer than the span of a grant. And like the many kinds of Girl Scout Cookies sought after every year, there are many flavors of low- or no-cost actions people and organizations can take to make good things happen, like the Girl Scouts and the Boys and Girls Club joining together to better meet the needs of their kids and the community.