How Girl Scouts packed 10,376 meals for neighbors across the world
In a world where headlines often focus on division and uncertainty, it is moments of pure service that remind us what humanity is capable of – especially when the hands doing the work are small, determined, and fueled by purpose. This November, our Girl Scouts stepped into the newly expanded International Disaster Emergency Service facility here in Noblesville and proved that compassion has no borders.
What started as a simple idea – to help families experiencing food insecurity in places far beyond our own city – quickly grew into something bigger than any of us imagined. In the first week of November, our troop visited the center for the very first time. The energy was soft but hopeful. The girls didn’t fully know what to expect, yet their curiosity and willingness to serve carried them through every step.
Together, we packed 4,320 meal bags that day – 4,320 small but meaningful reminders that someone, somewhere, cares.
Photo provided
Just two weeks later, in the third week of November, we returned. This time, something had shifted. Word had spread. More Girl Scouts showed up – older ones ready to guide, younger ones ready to learn, and all of them driven by the same shared mission: to help our neighbors in need. And as we say, the more the hands, the more the hope. With their collective effort, the girls packed 6,048 meal bags in a single session.
In total, over these two visits, our scouts packed 10,376 meals – 10,376 bags of nourishment, 10,376 bags of relief, 10,376 bags of hope. These meals will travel across borders to support families in Jamaica, Haiti, and wherever the need is greatest. It is humbling to realize that while we may never see the faces of the people who receive these bags, our actions will touch their lives in a very real way.
This experience taught our girls something essential: a neighbor isn’t always someone who lives next door. Sometimes, a neighbor is a child in another country whose struggles we cannot fully imagine. A mother waiting for help that is slow to arrive. A family trying to rebuild after disaster. And though we may not see their world firsthand, we can still stand beside them – one meal bag at a time.
The brand-new, expanded facility of the International Disaster Emergency Service made this possible. With their strong logistics, warm guidance, and mission-driven operations, our Girl Scouts had a safe, structured, and meaningful environment to serve. Not only did they pack meals – they learned what service looks like in action. They experienced teamwork beyond their troop. They understood that kindness, when multiplied, becomes impact.
Most importantly, they discovered the power of their own hands. Hands that may be small, but hands that create big change.
Photo provided
In a time when the world can feel heavy, it is heartening to watch our youth lighten the load – quietly, humbly, and with joy. These moments remind us that leadership isn’t taught; it’s lived. And this November, our girls lived it fully.
Here’s to raising young leaders who believe in a world where no neighbor – near or far – feels forgotten. A world where service comes naturally. A world where compassion is active, not passive.
And as we look back on 10,376 meals packed, we know this is just the beginning. We are already scheduled for 2026 each quarter to bring more Girl Scouts and their families to chance to serve in our backyard to help across the border.
Pooja Thakkar is working to build connections through cuisine. You can read her column each week in the pages of The Reporter.