Girl Scouts Western PA Brownies Troop #20128 choose a community project each year that can make a difference locally.

This year they chose to collect an array of items so they could make toys and treats along with collecting traditional items needed by the McKean County S.P.C.A. They had collection boxes in Smethport at Northwest Bank, Costa’s Supermarket and the Smethport VFW Post 2497 along with a collection day at Costa’s.

With all the donations the girls were able to make an abundance of homemade dog treats from donated pumpkin, oats and peanut butter, tie blanks from donated fleece, catnip toys from fleece scraps, catnip and cotton stuffing, dog rope toys out of cut-up t-shirts, small beds from memory foam and fabric, pillows from fleece and stuffing and cat play toys from toilet paper rolls. They also collected a large amount of food, treats, litter, rags, bowls, leashes, toys and cleaning supplies for the SPCA. They collected and donated $250 to the S.P.C.A. as well.

The most exciting part for the scouts was coming to the S.P.C.A. to play with the animals. They got to play with and walk multiple cats and dogs. Each one of them left saying they wanted to volunteer when they got older and it was the “best day ever.”