New York City’s Girl Scout Troop 6000 is more than just the usual bond of sisterhood: they are the first troop in New York City organized to be exclusively for homeless girls.
Giselle Burgess, a single mother of five who lost her home in August, worked with the Department of Homeless Services in order to create the troop in February, drawing 20 girls and their families closer together. These families and the girls live with 100 other families in a Sleep Inn motel in Queens.
“Our mission is to instill girls with courage, confidence and character,” Burgess said in a “Today” special report by NBC’s Morgan Radford.
“It kind of feels like you’re not alone,” a scout named Sinai said. “It shows you that you’re not the only one who has the same problem.”
“We’re all Girl Scout sisters,” a scout named Karina said. “We’re all a pack. And if you see a girl with 6,000 on, it just makes you like, we’ve gone through the same thing or you’re still going through it.”
“We all act like we’re real sisters,” Sinai said.
The Girl Scouts of Greater New York are paying for the girls’ membership dues, fees, and starter kits and are accepting donations to help fund the program.