The Comet Cupboard is an in-school food pantry service that aids food insecure students at Mason Intermediate and Mason Elementary Schools. The program, formerly known as the Western Row Backpack Program, was taken over and rebranded by Girl Scout Troop 44405 four years ago. In addition to supplying nonperishable food, the Troop also provides hygiene product packs, Mason spirit wear, winter coats and many other helpful items.
This year, troop co-leader Casey Moran says the scouts have expanded their program to help more students and families in need, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The school asked us to take on serving food to the same families that we had been serving, but for the entire district, not just grades 3-6,” Casey says. “We partnered with a few other organizations to make it happen and we kept it going throughout the entire summer, handing out food to families every Wednesday.”
The scouts have also started many of their own projects, such as Random Acts of Kindness Everyday (RAKE) events and canned food drives.
“At the beginning of summer, we realized that the meals we were handing out were a lot of the same things every week, so the girls came up with the idea of recipe cards,” Casey says. “Each scout provided recipes that used nonperishable items. We worked with the Mason High School Women’s Soccer Team and did a canned food drive, focusing on the items required for the recipes. The soccer players then packed the food into bags for one of our RAKE events.”
Casey says that running the Comet Cupboard has given the scouts an opportunity to help their peers and to learn about stigmas surrounding food insecurity. “The girls have ensured that the students’ needs are handled in a discreet, private manner,” she says. “I am very proud of their ability to develop such strong empathy at a young age.”
In addition to projects that make a difference in the community, members of Troop 44405 partnered with GE Aviation to help educate girls in STEM topics by creating informational YouTube videos. Casey says that the goal of these projects is to introduce the scouts to various subjects and help them find their passions, no matter what they may be.
“My role is to be another person in their lives to help them become the best people that they can be,” Casey says. “These ladies are tomorrow’s leaders and I want them to experience as many different things as they can including real world issues, helping their community, STEM and a variety of hands on activities."
By helping other students through the Comet Cupboard, scout Prisha Singhal says she and her fellow scouts have learned important life lessons. “We’ve learned leadership skills, money management and the power of kindness. It feels really good to be able to help people who are in need.”
Scout Dawsonne Jones says being part of the Comet Cupboard and Troop 44405 has taught her the importance of spreading positivity through random acts of kindness. “When you help somebody, it makes them want to go help other people,” Dawsonne says. “Spreading kindness impacts the world.”
Donations from the community and local businesses have helped the Comet Cupboard develop into the charitable organization it is today. To support the Comet Cupboard, contributions can be mailed to the Mason City Schools Central Office. Mason parents can also use EZPay to donate. All donations are tax deductible. Personal hygiene items and nonperishable food items can be dropped off at Duck Donuts, Kala Coffeehouse, Mims off Main and Baysore’s Flowers.
“These ladies are tomorrow’s leaders and I want them to experience as many different things as they can. ” - Casey Moran