How Your Girl Scout Troop Can Support Kids Living In Poverty With Cookie Sales

December 23, 2021

Time to read 2 min

Are you looking for something new and different this year to help kids around the world? Today I want to introduce you to Because International™ a nonprofit set out to help as many kids as possible who are in desperate need of footwear to protect their feet. They have a great way for troops like you to help.

How Because International Started…

In 2007, Because International founder Kenton Lee worked at a small orphanage in Kenya. One day as he was out walking with the kids, he looked down to see that the little girl beside him was wearing shoes too small for her feet. In fact, her shoes were so small that she had to cut open the front to let her toes stick out. That day Kenton thought: What if there was a shoe that could adjust and expand its size? What if there was a shoe that could grow?

As he soon found out, that little girl without proper shoes isn’t the only one. In fact, millions of children around the world don’t have access to shoes—leaving them vulnerable to soil-transmitted diseases and parasites. Additionally, without shoes it’s harder for kids to safely get to school or play outside with friends. And, as all parents know, children’s feet grow quickly, often outgrowing donated shoes within one year—leaving them exposed once again to the dangers of being barefoot outside.

Girl Scouts can help these children by choosing to donate The Shoe That Grows in place of cookie sale reward items. The Shoe That Grows is a durable shoe made specifically for kids living in areas impacted by poverty—it expands five sizes, providing safety for multiple years.

THE SHOE THAT GROWS

DESIGNED FOR KIDS IMPACTED BY POVERTY, ONE PAIR COSTS $20 AND WILL EXPAND FIVE SIZES AND LAST FOR YEARS.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE ONLINE

Sign up for the philanthropic reward program and receive resources including a sample pair of The Shoe That Grows and digital resource kit. For troops eager to do good and help kids with their cookie sales, signing up is easy! Simply head to Because International’s website and sign up for the philanthropic rewards program—shortly after, you’ll receive resources to motivate and educate your troop, including a sample pair of The Shoe That Grows!

2. GIRL SCOUTS DONATE PAIRS OF SHOES

Your Girl Scouts can choose to donate shoes in place of a reward item based on the structure your council determines. Your council will need to determine the reward structure the troop will follow. Based on what is decided, at the end of cookie season, the troop can add up sales and know exactly how many shoes they are sending to kids who need them. At the end, you’ll submit a single donation to Because International.

3. GIRL SCOUTS MAKE A LASTING IMPACT

After we receive your donation, we’ll send the shoes to one of our partners on the ground in Africa or in refugee camps who will distribute shoes to kids and families who can benefit from them most. We’ll send you specific details on the country and location of the children who received the shoes donated by your troop!

For More Questions

For leaders who’d like to learn more about getting their troop involved, please reach out! We’d love to connect to talk about The Shoe That Grows: kayla@becauseinternational.org