Mahogany Middlebrooks, a 15-year-old Girl Scout in Troop 30294, knows the value of giving to her community.   It’s something her mother, Lakisha Jackson, has emphasized to her daughter and it’s also a prominent part of Mahogany’s role as a Girl Scout in her local troop, part of the Martin Luther King service unit on Buffalo’s East Side.

“I have always been encouraged by my mom to be the change I want to see,” Mahogany says. “If there is an issue that directly or indirectly affects my community, I look for ways to be a part of the solution and not a bystander.”

Mahogany’s words speak directly to the Girls Scouts’ mission of making the world a better place – and her troop is doing that right here in Western New York.

To encourage Mahogany, Lakisha began looking two years ago for a Girl Scout troop with a strong service mission. She says Troop 30294’s commitment to the community energized her immediately.

“When I attended their open house I was taken by the friendly nature of everyone,” says Lakisha. “They’ve helped prepare meals and visit with guests at the Kevin Guest House; they’ve been to the Food Bank of Western New York; they’re active at various community centers helping with all kinds of projects,” says Jackson. “The work this troop is doing is exceptional.”

The Girl Scouts possess a certain joy that says they bring to every aspect of their community service.

“These feelings are shared all the way around,” says Jackson. “Anything someone can do to keep this kind of thing going – this link from a great youth organization to the community it serves – is such a good investment.

“We have to keep this going,” she says.

It’s work that is part of a circle of giving. Campaign for the Community contributions enable the Girl Scouts of Western New York, including troops like Mahogany’s, to engage in community service programs that are making the world a better place.

“Being a Girl Scout allows me to contribute to the community in ways I wouldn’t be able to on my own,” Mahogany says.