Girl Scouts make grocery bags for Clover center

Girl Scout Troop 722 from Lake Wylie on May 24 donated 138 grocery bags to Clover Area Assistance Center. But, these were not ordinary grocery bags. These bags were made out of T-shirts.

To complete their Bronze Award, “Take Action Project,” the Scouts came up with the reusable bag idea to give to CAAC clients and to donate food to the Full Choice Pantry. The girls incorporated the idea of recycling by turning the T-shirts into something else that’s functional.

Sweet Repeat Charitable Foundation donated more than 120 T-shirts. During four troop meetings, the girls removed the sleeves and collar from every shirt, and sewed the bottom of the shirts together to form a bag. They then painted the CAAC logo and name on each bag using stencils. All 13 girls in the troop helped in different aspects of completing the project, including cutting, sewing, painting and attaching tags to each of the bags once completed.

“The girls were very excited to help CAAC,” said Melinda Bumber, troop co-leader. “They really wanted to provide customers with something sturdy they could carry their groceries home in.”

The Scouts toured the facility, and also provided CAAC with laminated direction sheets outlining how the bags were made.

“They all worked together and were enthusiastic throughout the project,” said co-leader Kerrie Goforth. “The girls were excited to finish the project and be able to bring their donation to Clover Area Assistance Center.”

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Girl Scouts make grocery bags for Clover center."