Sarah Blough has volunteered to help rebuild houses for several years on her breaks from Reservoir High School. So it was natural for her to choose to re-build for her Gold Award in Girl Scouts. The Gold Award is the pinnicle achievement for a senior Girl Scout, akin to an Eagle Scout Award in Boy Scouts.
In order to earn this award, Sarah needed to plan and follow through with a project designed to help the community. Her project was titled "Renovation for Rehabilitation." She worked with The Samaritan Women in Baltimore that are renovating a Victorian mansion that will house women who are veterans, leaving rehabilitation programs or trying to get off the streets. They will be offered a place to live and help to get their lives back together until they are ready to move out on their own.
Sarah was given one of the bedrooms to renovate. The room needed to be totally redone since the house is more than 100 years old. She organized and led a team of volunteers to strip and repair the wood in the room, take off layers of paint off the fireplace, repair the walls and repaint and help transform a ruin into a warm living space for a woman in need.
She started last year and worked without heat or proper lighting on weekends and school breaks. It took a year to complete, but now the room will be used to help many women in need and is warm and inviting.
What a gift Sarah has given to the community. Sarah is 16 years old, but has been making a difference in people's lives for years. She is a very impressive and we should all be proud to have her as part of our community.
The Reservoir High School's Gator Academy is offering free tutoring for all Reservoir students. It is held at the Savage Branch Library on Sundays, Nov. 6 and 13, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. For information, contact Kris Kendall at KrisKendall@verizon.net or Miriam Cruz at 240-640-7885.
Mt. Zion United Methodist Church will be holding a blood drive Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. The church is at 12430 Scaggsville Road. Call Sharon Hill at 301-385-0639 or email robandsharonhill@verizon.net to schedule your donation.
Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church's annual Christmas Bazaar is Nov. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They will have games, food, silent auctions, a raffle and attic treasures and Santa Claus will make an appearance. For more information call 410-792-7982.
The church is also holding its annual polka dance and Mass Nov. 19. The Mass will start at 4 p.m. and the dance will run from 5 to 10 p.m. The price for this event is $12.50 per person in advance and $15 at the door.
St. Francis of Assisi's Annual Christmas Bazaar is Nov. 11 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will have vendors, fresh wreaths and greens, silent auction, bake sale, Santa's Secret Shop plus much more. The church is at 8300 Old Columbia Road.