CityView Magazine

Girl Scout Troop #225, one of the 56 troops in the area, is led by Teresa Gar- cia and S. Deneen Freeman. As with all the other troops in the region, they are very involved in the community, teach- ing their young girls the importance of giving back. "In October they helped the Police/Sheriff/Fire Department host a Bonnie Doone Empowerment Day," said Cross. "The girls ran a booth with games and face painting. They helped with the bouncy houses and talked to girls about Girl Scouts." Eighty- four pairs of gloves were collected at a Cookie Rally in January by all the Girl Scouts who attended the event. During the "Bring a Friend Bash," Cumberland County Girl Scouts collected socks and distributed them to the needy in the community. To celebrate the 100th year of Girl Scouts, troops hosted a Bonfire & Hootenanny, where food and blan- kets were collected for the needy. Those who belong to troops are not the only ones who benefit from what the Girl Scouts have to offer. Cross and Jackson visit schools across the county and teach courses in self-esteem and one on financial literacy called "Cents Ability." "These classes give us the opportu- Williford McCauley ATTORNEY AT LAW E Estate Settlement & Administration, Practicing in the areas of state & Tax Planning and Business Law McCauley & Person, LLP 1308 Ft. Bragg Road, Suite 101 Fayetteville, North Carolina 28305 Telephone: (910) 401-5900 Fax: (910) 401-5901 66 | March/April • 2012 nity to be there for all girls," Jackson said. "When you are a girl in middle school learning about self-esteem is very important. We want to let them know we understand what they are go- ing through." Cross added, "It is so amazing how they listen to us and take in what we are teaching them. This may lead some girls to want to explore the Girl Scouts more. As a leader and now as a membership director and working in the school sys- tem with young girls, I love it when you see a light bulb go off and you see they understand a concept you are teaching or when you see their leadership skills come alive." Jackson said that being a member- ship director in the area that includes Fort Bragg presents some interesting aspects. "Many of these girls have lived in several places during their young lives and when they move, Girl Scouts is one stable thing they have to look forward to. No matter where they came

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