We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation for the community’s kindness to our school-aged children through your donations to Hopelink’s End Summer Hunger program. Girl Scout Troop 44134, a fourth-grade troop from Mark Twain Elementary School, collected donations in front of the Fred Meyer in Totem Lake on June 10.

Thanks to the generous gifts of so many Kirkland residents, we were able to collect 660 pounds of food and $600. The troop also donated boxes of Girl Scout cookies that were collected during their spring cookie sales event.

End Summer Hunger is Hopelink’s grassroots effort to ensure that kids on summer break have enough to eat when meals at school are not available. The annual campaign brings together local businesses, organizations, schools and individuals to raise funds to provide supplemental food for kids who qualify for free and reduced-price breakfasts and lunches during the school year.

See more at tinyurl.com/y9aysckf.

This was the troop’s community service project. Community service is an integral part of being a Girl Scout, providing girls with an opportunity to practice teamwork, build critical thinking skills, and empowering them to make changes in their community. What better way for girls to learn cooperation and build friendships than working together to accomplish a single goal?

Thank you.

Troop 44134,

Kirkland