Highlands resident and Girl Scout Mia Cooledge, is on a mission to earn “the Gold,” the Girl Scouts highest award for service. The award is given to those who show leadership skills and leave a lasting impact on the community. Mia’s been actively demonstrating leadership skills in the Kirkland community as a member of the Kirkland Cultural Council and working at Peter Kirk Pool. The Gold award requires the scout to develop and implement a plan of service to the community to achieve the award. There are many hours of work involved.

Mia’s project is to deliver blankets to homeless women and children at the Union Gospel Mission’s Women’s Shelter, Hope Place. Her target is to provide 20 blankets for the shelter by the end of July.

But Mia is knitting these blankets, square by square, which is a very time consuming process. She’s been busy knitting these squares and, with friends’ help, she’s made enough squares for one blanket. She’s been working on these squares while going to school, volunteering, working, and pursuing other activities, which gives her little free time. Her target of 20 blankets means she’d have to knit at least 20 squares a day! It’s a physically impossible task, as it takes her two hours to knit a square.

Can you help Mia reach her goal by the end of July? Help her provide 20 blankets to Hope Place and earn her Gold Award. Mia cannot accept cash, but here’s how you can help by donating: new or clean machine washable blankets; worsted medium weight yarn; size 8 knitting needles; or make and donate crocheted or knitted 7 X 9 inch squares.

A donation box has been set up at the Peter Kirk Community Center at 352 Kirkland Ave.

You can also reach Mia at miacc@msn.com. Not only will you be helping a Kirkland teen receive a prestigious award, you’ll be helping homeless women and children, and giving back to the community.

Long-time Kirkland resident, Debra Sinick, is a Realtor for Windermere RE/East, Inc. and writes a blog about Kirkland, www.kirklandhighlandsrealestate buzz.com.