Girl Scouts give young girls the tools they need to be the most confident and courageous versions of themselves. Many children experiencing homelessness miss out on the chance to participate in programs like Girl Scouts due to a variety of complex circumstances. The Girl Scouts of Greater New York launched Troop 6000 in 2017 as a troop specifically designed to be a space where young girls in the New York City shelter system can join a community that builds girls of courage, confidence, and character.

Troop 6000 gives girls experiencing homelessness an opportunity to join a strong network of girls and women across the country.

Girls living at the HFH family residences located in the Bronx have been involved with Troop 6000 since April 2021. The meetings were held virtually in the spring, and have begun in-person every other Thursday at Allie’s Place Family Residence. The goal is to unite girls across all four HFH family residences to join this network, including more field trips and community service involvement as things move forward.

Heidi Schmidt, Director of Girl Scouts of Greater New York Troop 6000, presented during the 2020 ICPH Beyond Housing Conference along with girls from the troop.

“Girl Scouts of Greater New York is thrilled to bring Troop 6000 to Allie’s Place, working together with Homes for the Homeless to make Girl Scouting accessible for girls living in family shelters,” says Schmidt. “Through regular meetings and activities, members of Troop 6000 connect with each other and develop strong bonds over shared experiences, in addition to becoming part of the larger Girl Scout sisterhood across New York City.”

The significance of Troop 6000’s involvement with HFH is portrayed in the book Troop 6000: The Girl Scout Troop That Began in a Shelter and Inspired the World written by The New York Times journalist Nikita Stewart. Stewart introduces readers to the story of a single mother of five, Giselle Burgess. The lives of her and her daughters were altered drastically when they entered a shelter in Queens, New York.

Having witnessed the impact that Girl Scouts had made in her daughters’ lives, Burgess decided to form a troop at the shelter her family was living in. While it proved to be a challenge, the troop brought together families experiencing similar hardships, and the weekly meetings became an escape for the girls involved. Today, Troop 6000 is present in shelters across New York City and has gained recognition across the country.

Jasmin Vaughan, Lead Teacher for Allie’s Place Afterschool and Recreation, was once a Girl Scout herself. Having grown up in the Bronx, she believes that the girls at the HFH shelters will benefit greatly from being part of Troop 6000.

“I truly think it gives that exposure for them to experience new and different backgrounds. I think being in Girl Scouts will help to broaden their minds,” says Vaughan.

Vaughan believes the girls will gain life skills as active members of Troop 6000 including “increasing their ability to communicate with people in their community and, [interacting with] girls in the other troops, and connecting with people outside of the troops.”

One of the benefits that membership in this special troop provides is access to the “Troop 6000 Transition Initiative,” which helps Girl Scouts and their families throughout the process of moving out of the shelter system into housing. Essential items for their new homes, such as soap, shampoo, pillows, and comforters are provided along with financial aid—to ensure that the girls stay connected to their Troop 6000 community throughout their transition—and help connecting the girls to another local troop near their new homes.

The girls who attend Allie’s Place Afterschool and Recreation program have given positive feedback about their involvement with Troop 6000.

Members of Troop 6000: Makailah and Jazlynn

“It’s very fun, and it’s very entertaining,” says Makailah, 10, a member of Troop 6000 at Allie’s Place since its inception in April.

“[To me, Troop 6000] means to have somebody to depend on and just know that they’re going to be there like a sister,” Makailah continued. “It’s something where you have people that care about you, have people who actually want to be there for you, that you could talk to if you don’t have anyone else to talk to, and have fun at the same time.”

Another member of the troop, Jazlynn, 9, was previously part of Girl Scouts in school and decided to rejoin with Troop 6000 when it was introduced at Allie’s Place. Jazlynn’s favorite activity with the group is the icebreakers because she gets to know the other members of the troop.

Schmidt says that “Through their Girl Scout journey, girls develop supportive relationships, explore new interests, and gain the confidence to use their voices to make the world a better place.”

Moving forward, HFH is working toward the goal of including girls from each family residence and providing an opportunity for women in the community to get involved so they can all take advantage of Girl Scouts Troop 6000.

Learn more about Troop 6000

Fred Rogers Productions and PBS KIDS, in collaboration with local affiliate THIRTEEN, hosted an exclusive premiere screening of the new animated series, Alma's Way, for the students at HFH's Bronx family residences. The show features Alma, a cheerful, young Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx who uses critical thinking skills to solve everyday problems alongside her friends and family. Viewers are invited into her world as she explores her borough, celebrates her culture, and believes in her ability to think for herself. 

Fred Rogers Productions and THIRTEEN provided popcorn, apple juice, coloring pages, and stickers for the students to indulge in as they watched familiar elements from their community come to life such as the 6 train and small, bustling businesses along the neighborhood streets. 

"The goal at Allie's Place Afterschool & Recreation is for kids to create bonds within the classroom and embrace their community regardless of their current situation," says David Belmar, Afterschool Manager at Allie's Place Family Residence. "Alma's Way can be really helpful to kids experiencing homelessness; making them feel proud of the borough they currently live in."  

Students at Allie’s Place Family Residence watch an episode of Alma’s Way  

The representation of Puerto Rican culture resonated with many students, from Alma’s family cooking mofongo, a traditional dish made with fried plantains, to the frequent use of “Spanglish” incorporating a mix of English and Spanish words within conversations.  

The show comes from the mind of Sonia Manzano, a Bronx native, best known for her role as “Maria” on Sesame Street. Manzano drew from personal experiences to create the show in a manner that highlights both the diversity and strong Puerto Rican community within the Bronx. 

“One of Sonia’s original goals for Alma’s Way was to show kids that they have a mind and that they can use it,” says Ellen Doherty, Chief Creative Officer at Fred Rogers Productions and Executive Producer on Alma’s Way. 

“Between the ages of four to six, kids are experiencing more moments in their day-to-day lives where they are figuring things out for themselves. We worked together to develop a series that helps them learn to problem solve, express what they think and feel, and to recognize and respect the perspective of others.”  

Alma’s confidence as she navigates her surroundings—with the help of her family, neighbors, and friends—sets a positive example for young kids as they immerse themselves in her adventures and sing along to her captivating theme song.  

Belmar would like to incorporate more media like this into the Afterschool program “to push a more positive narrative of the Bronx.” 

“It’s important to encourage and inspire students, especially when they are able to see themselves in the shows they watch.” 

You can watch full episodes, play interactive games, and learn about Alma’s Way on the official PBS KIDS’ website: https://pbskids.org/almasway/  

Students at the HFH family residences in the Bronx geared up for the new school year with the help of Old Navy, which has been teaming up with HFH since 2017. Seven local stores throughout the Bronx and Westchester provided a generous donation of backpacks and other essentials including notebooks, rulers, pencil cases, hand sanitizer, and many more school supplies.

At Williamsbridge Family Residence’s Back-to-School event, Old Navy volunteers helped students choose the perfect backpack for the fall semester from the assortment of characters, colors, and designs. The volunteers also gifted the students with two goodie bags filled with snacks, educational coloring books, and other fun treats for them to enjoy.

Latanya Spellman, from Old Navy’s White Plains Road location in the Bronx, said the most rewarding part of volunteering at the event was to “just see [the] faces” of the students as they selected their backpacks, prompting fellow Old Navy volunteers to emphatically agree.

When asked about why they decided to team up with HFH for Back-to-School, Tina Macheda, Old Navy’s District Community Leader for the Bronx, expressed that “community is near and dear to our hearts as a company.”

Allie’s Place Afterschool & Recreation received a visit from a few special guests to help celebrate the end of Summer Day Camp. Students learned about the cute creatures The Nature Company brought to the classroom. A bunny rabbit, box turtle, two hermit crabs, and a corn snake were all in attendance.

Students petting and observing animals during an interactive animal show at their end-of-summer/back-to-school celebration. 

The animal show included an interactive lesson with trivia quizzes about the animals they had just met. Kids observed animal behaviors, asked questions, and took turns petting the animals individually all while gaining new knowledge about mammals, reptiles, and crustacea. One by one, the students enjoyed the chance to get up close to these slimy, tiny, and furry new friends. 

Students learning facts about turtles, hermit crabs, rabbits, and snakes.  

Allie's Place wasn't the only family residence that The Nature Company visited. The other three sites took part in the fun, as well. Students at Saratoga, Williamsbridge, and Prospect had their own meet-and-greets with the same animals. 

The Tokyo Olympic Games may be over, but Saratoga Afterschool is just getting started with their very own Olympics. Held in mid-August as part of their summer day camp, the students were split into two teams—green and red—with captains appointed on each team to lead, encourage team spirit, and guide their younger teammates. Competitions included a wheelbarrow race, hula hoop contest, and a spelling bee—to exercise the mind, as well as the body.

When the Games were complete, Michael Chapman, Director of Afterschool and Recreation at Saratoga, led the Afterschool students through a conversation regarding their emotions throughout the day. They discussed how no matter what, whether you are winning or losing, you should always do your best—and most importantly: be safe and have fun.

This summer, HFH collaborator, KidCare helped us create events with taco, waffle, and ice cream food trucks and hands-on activities at each HFH family residence providing opportunities for families to celebrate the summer, enjoy a festive meal, and have fun together.

“Saratoga’s Summer Slam” was escalated to a whole new level by the Birria Del Toro Rojo taco truck. Residents stopped by to pick up tacos in between singing, dancing, and painting. Taco options included Birria (braised beef brisket), chicken, al pastor, and veggie. Yesybell, age 9, got chicken tacos. “It was very good,” she said. “I also squeezed some lime into it!”

Wafels & Dinges, the “legendary wafels of NYC,” set up camp at the doorstep of Allie’s Place and offered residents and staff Belgian waffles. There was a plethora of toppings to choose from to top the waffles, from strawberries and bananas to ice cream and whipped cream. Staff took this opportunity to share details about about the many free opportunities available right on-site at Allie’s Place—from Afterschool and Recreation to the Center for Culinary Education & Employment.

The Wafels & Dinges Truck made another stop at Williamsbridge Family Residence to deliver the same tasty Belgian waffles. Residents and staff lined up with excitement to order their choice of waffles, ice cream, and mango lemonade. Williamsbridge staff used their time socializing with residents to encourage sign-ups for the coming school year’s Afterschool and Daycare Programs.

Prospect Family Residence received some refreshing treats from the Andy’s Italian Ice Truck. A wide variety of flavors were available including the traditional Water Ice, Crème Ice, Sugar-Free options, and their Homemade Ice Cream. Families and staff mingled in front of Prospect as they ordered and enjoyed unlimited Italian Ices giving kids and adults alike the chance to try their tried and true favorites and to experiment with new tastes. Prospect’s Early Childhood Education Center, which serves youngsters from both the shelter and the surrounding neighborhood, tied the visit into a learning experience by teaching a lesson on making vegan ice cream. Students had the chance to “sell” their product to staff from their own “Ice Cream Truck” within their classroom in the days leading up to the event.