February 19, 2010

Girls Scouts create commercial to promote Food Drive

By Andrew Sullivan Contributing Writer

Northborough- The Girls Scouts who make up Troop 30528 recently took to the small screen to promote their upcoming food drive.

Concerned with getting the word out to gain awareness for this important cause, the troop filmed a television commercial in the rotunda at Algonquin Regional High School.

The food drive will be held before the Girl Scout Talent Show, at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 5.

Troop 30528 decided to make the commercial because it felt it would be the best way to get the message out about the food drive to concerned residents who may want to contribute to the cause.

Troop leader Karen English said making the commercial was an enjoyable experience and thought the girls had a great time with the unique opportunity and made the most of it.

“They were really thrilled,” English said.

The selection for the Northborough Food Pantry as the beneficiary of the food drive was made because of the high demand of help the Food Pantry has been requested to provide lately. English felt that it was an opportunity to supply the pantry with some much-needed supplies.

“They had done it last year and it was highly successful and they decided to do it again,” English said. “Their needs are more than ever. The demands at the Food Pantry are higher than ever.”

The Girl Scouts’ food drive comes a few months after the Scouting for Food Drive that took place in November 2009. Rainy conditions on the day of that food drive made collection difficul t an d Englis h i s hopeful those who weren’t able to contribute to that food drive will make it out for this one.

“With the torrential downpour we had, some people weren’t able to get out to make their donations,” English said. “This is the place to show support for the Girl Scouts, but to also show it for the Food Pantry.”

The idea for the commercial came about recently when English talked with friend and Northborough Cable Access Director Kathy Dalgliesh, who was able to off er assistance. The commercial was a great way to inform the public, Dalgliesh told English. Shortly after that conversation, Dalgliesh and English put the plan for making the commercial in motion.

“We were talking about the best way to advertise,” English said. “The idea to do a commercial came from another troop who had done the same thing and we thought we could use it for the food drive to get people who were going to the talent show to donate to the food drive as well.”

The scouts let their creativity take over in the process, coming up with everything from a storyline to scripts for all involved. It was fun for English to watch the eff ort put into the project by the scouts.

“They got to see how the filming went with a green screen background and how to design sets and read from the teleprompter,” English said. “That was real exciting for them to see.”

With the Bronze Award, something the troop hopes to achieve and the highest award a troop can obtain, comes the requirement to give back to the community. English is happy that the scouts have been more than willing to lend a hand to those in need.

“The project shows their commitment to the community and the commitment to the [other Scouts,]” English said.

The commercial can been seen on Northborough Cable Access Televisions beginning the first week of March.