Scout Launches Craft Club for Special Needs Students

Bridgewater Girl Scout Alissa Percival spends much of her time working on projects aimed at helping her fellow Scouts.

But she also makes time to volunteer with special needs students at the Adamsville School extended school program, where she's come to enjoy and appreciate the special nature of the students.

She's also come to recognize the limited opportunities the students have outside of school programs—which she hopes to enhance with a series of Saturday morning craft projects for special needs students at the Martinsville Community Center.

"The projects are going to be based on the month, so for January, we'll do snow globes," she said. Future months' projects will include hearts for Valentine's Day and Dr. Seuss or Mother's Day projects for May.

As part of her community service project for the Girl Scouts' Gold Award, Alissa has scheduled meetings for 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at the MCC. She said there's no cost for the participants, and hopes to hear from both parents of students interested and some volunteers interested in participating (email her at bloomcraft2013@gmail if you can help or have a student to participate).

"My goal is to sort of help people understand about working with special needs kids—and for the kids to have a program they can enjoy," the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional junior said.

She said the projects will be educational for both the students and the volunteers (volunteers must be over 10 years of age).