Local Girl Scout Troop to Host Blood Drive

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Pacific Palisades-based Girl Scout Troop 9565 is hosting the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Mobile Blood Donation Bus at the Palisades Recreation Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 13.

The Troop—made up of fifth and sixth grade students from Palisades Charter Elementary, St. Matthew’s Parish, Paul Revere Middle and Calvary Christian School—will be hosting the drive as part of earning their Bronze Award—the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve.

For Girl Scouts to pursue their Bronze Award, they have to be a registered Girl Scout Junior in fourth or fifth grade, and complete a Junior Journey. To earn their award, they have to examine their community and choose a Girl Scout Bronze Award Project to pursue, teaming up to make a difference or positive change.

Troop Leader Gloria Kim said the project also needs to continuously give back to the community.

“The way we are giving back continuously is because if you donate blood, you are giving back to other patients and saving their lives,” Kim said to the Palisadian-Post.

The Troop also chose to host a blood drive because CHLA is reporting a shortage of blood donors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Every month, CHLA has to collect 2,000 units of blood products to meet the needs of its patients,” according to the event flyer. “Every donation is precious and we thank you in advance for your consideration.”

The drive is open to everyone in the community who is 17 years or older and weighs at least 110 pounds. Donors must provide a valid photo ID.

The Troop said they will try to accommodate as many walk-up appointments as they can on the day of the event, but it is recommended to sign up ahead of time. They will also be offering free Girl Scout cookies to all who register to donate.

Kim said Troop 9565 is fairly new, with the girls having been together since they were in kindergarten.

“It’s good for them to come together … and socialize outside of the school context,” Kim said. “They’re just hanging out and … learning some good moral values and life lessons.”

Along with helping the girls earn their Bronze Award, Kim—who has two daughters in Girl Scouts—said she is in it for the long run.

“There’s a Bronze, Silver and Gold Award in Girl Scouts,” Kim said to the Post. “The Gold Award, which they can earn in their junior or senior year of high school, is a very prestigious award … I am in it for the long haul as Troop leader to get as many girls as I can to do their Gold Award because it would look amazing on their college applications.”

To sign up to donate, visit chladonateblood.org and enter the sponsor code: GS9565. For event questions or to learn more about becoming a Girl Scout, Kim can be reached at 310-905-0314.