Harley Cross, a dedicated Girl Scout from the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award by creating a community food pantry in Arcadia to address food insecurity. This project represents the culmination of Harley’s ten years in Girl Scouts, marking her achievement as a Gold Award Girl Scout—a distinction that only 6% of eligible Girl Scouts achieve.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, recognizing girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership, take on sustainable community challenges, and create lasting change. Harley’s project is an inspiring example of this leadership, reflecting her commitment to making a positive impact in her community.

Over the course of her project, Harley engaged in activities such as planning, shopping for materials and food, constructing the pantry, and raising awareness about food insecurity. She collaborated with her family, Girl Scout leaders, and local law enforcement, as well as community organizations like DeSoto Cares Homeless Center and All Faiths Food Bank, to gather information and support. Despite facing challenges in obtaining responses from some organizations, Harley overcame these obstacles by relying on her problem-solving skills and the unwavering support of her immediate community.

The project was funded through a combination of Girl Scout cookie program proceeds, personal savings, and donations, totaling $680—an amount that covered all expenses. Demonstrating strong leadership, Harley managed the budget, coordinated construction, and promoted the pantry through social media and community presentations. The pantry is now a vital resource for local residents facing food insecurity, stocked with non-perishable food items and educational materials about food insecurity and employment resources.

Harley’s project will continue to benefit the Arcadia community long after her departure for college, as her family and the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office have committed to maintaining the pantry. This initiative not only meets immediate needs but also raises awareness about hunger within the community, creating a lasting impact.

Reflecting on her journey, Harley shared, “I learned that I am a better public speaker than I thought. I also learned to overcome not getting a response from people I thought would be happy to help with my project. I learned to rely only on myself, and that other assistance is just a welcome bonus.” This experience taught Harley valuable lessons in resilience, leadership, and adaptability.

In leading her project, Harley demonstrated exceptional leadership skills. She stated, “I led my project by listening to others and making decisions that would benefit the people using my pantry.” Her leadership involved raising awareness about food insecurity, coordinating volunteers, and overseeing all aspects of the pantry’s construction and stocking. This project allowed Harley to develop essential skills in project management, public speaking, budgeting, problem-solving, and community building.

Harley Cross, a recent graduate of DeSoto County High School, exemplifies the core values of Girl Scouting through her dedication to service, courage, and community problem-solving. As a Juliette, she has been an independent Girl Scout for 10 years and has now earned the most prestigious recognition available through the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

Harley will receive formal recognition for her Gold Award at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s annual Young Women of Distinction Ceremony in May.

Dakota Partelow, a member of Girl Scout Troop 608 in Englewood, recently completed her Gold Award project. She transformed a room at Valerie House, a dedicated children’s grief center in Southwest Florida, into a comforting and welcoming space for children to play and cope with grief.

Dakota’s project began with the goal of providing a space for children at the Valerie House to express their emotions and cope with the challenges they face while grieving. She was inspired to complete her project after utilizing the services at Valerie House and recognizing that children could benefit from improved mental health and wellness if they had access to a more welcoming space.

“I reached my goal by restoring the room’s beauty by painting the room,” Dakota said. “The staff at the Valerie House were so stunned by the transformation that they had no words.”

Recognizing the therapeutic benefits of play in processing grief, Dakota also created designated play areas for the children with a rug for playing with cars. This space was designed to encourage a safe and comforting environment for them to express themselves. She gathered donated toys, books, and stuffed animals from her fellow troop members and added two comfortable bean bag chairs, which she purchased with funds raised by making and selling chocolate lollipops.

“I can do things that I didn’t believe I could do,” Dakota reflected on the completion of her project.

Despite facing learning differences that make communication a challenge, Dakota was able to overcome these obstacles with the support of her family, troop leaders, and sister Girl Scouts, demonstrating remarkable growth through her project.

Kathy Van Note, Dakota’s troop leader, witnessed Dakota’s progress firsthand. “Communication is a leadership skill. Dakota grew by being able to talk to people.” Van Note shared. “She also grew as a young woman and was starting to be able to talk with adults at the counseling center. She has a very hard time talking to people, but in the years that she has been with me, I am so proud of how well she is doing with her peers and adults. She was a delegate for our service unit. In the beginning, you did not hear a word from her, but this past year she started talking in front of all these adults.”

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. The award requires the completion of a sustainable project that addresses a community issue. The project requires over 80 hours of dedicated planning, research, and implementation and must demonstrate leadership and have a measurable, sustainable impact on the community. Through this achievement, girls build essential life skills such as leadership, problem-solving, and time management.

By taking on this project, Dakota has made a lasting impact on her community and developed valuable skills that will serve her throughout her life. Dakota’s project will continue to benefit the Valerie House as her sister has committed to regularly checking in and ensuring that the space remains welcoming for the children who visit.

Dakota will receive formal recognition for her Gold Award at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s annual Young Women of Distinction Ceremony in May.