On Wednesday, March 27 at 6 p.m., Clinton Girl Scout Troop 62255 will be collecting items for party bags to be donated to Clinton Family Services Mobile Food Pantry. For troop co-leader Shannon Worcester-Juran, this event marks the latest step in watching the girls grow together.

Donations can go a long way for families who rely on the food pantry in town. While many people step up by making sure the pantry is stocked with basic necessities, it isn’t always filled with items that can make the difference for a child who uses the pantry.

“The food pantry is filled with meats and potatoes and those kinds of food, but they don’t have a lot of things for birthdays,” Shannon explains.

After a friend in Milford told Shannon about a similar project that she had participated in, Shannon took the suggestion to Girl Scout Troop 62255, a troop for 5th-grade girls in Clinton.

“We came up with list of seven or eight other ideas and volunteer initiatives. But this seemed like a larger need that was unfulfilled,” Shannon says.

To make sure that every family has the ability to make their child’s birthday a special one, the troop is seeking donations of typical birthday party items such as party hats, birthday candles, tablecloths, cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, snacks, soda, and balloons. Gift cards to grocery stores are also appreciated. Those interested in making a donation can fill out a QR code available on flyers that have been posted in the Facebook group, “All Things Clinton.”

One aspect of organizing the event that stuck out to Shannon was how much of the planning the kids actually did themselves.

“They created the budget for themselves, they brainstormed what should go in the bags themselves. A lot of the process was really them coming up with the ideas,” says Shannon.

Shannon has been a co-leader with the scout troop for six years, and she enjoys the way the kids come together to achieve common goals.

“They’re a fantastic group, and we’ve seen them thrive. They all have different personalities, but it’s great when they all work as a team.”

The joy that Shannon gets from seeing the girls take initiative is what she likes the most about being involved with the troop.

“Watching the girls come together and support each other. Watching my daughters take the bull by the horns and doing something,” says Shannon on her favorite aspect.

Of course, Shannon admits that it can be difficult trying to accomplish everything the troop wants to do.

“The planning is hardest part, trying to get to everything,” she admits.

Helping young people achieve their goals is nothing new for Shannon. Professionally, Shannon is an English teacher for high schoolers in Milford.

“I always wanted to be a teacher,” Shannon says. “Originally, I thought maybe an art teacher, but I changed to English.”

As a teacher, Shannon loves to see the seniors realize their dreams.

“Watching their goals come true. I work a lot on the college essays. That’s my favorite part,” Shannon says.

Shannon grew up in Milford and moved to Clinton seven years ago.

“I liked the amount of space and the affordability of the land,” Shannon says.

Shannon runs Sweet Beeginnings Market Gardens, a flower farm and apiary in town that takes up much of her free time when she isn’t teaching or helping out with the Girl Scouts.

“I like that Clinton is a smaller town than what I’m used to. I like that everyone knows another and gets back to you when you call,” says Shannon. “It’s a really tight-knit community.”