2025 Reflections Program

ELIZABETH BABCOCK Feeding America estimates that almost 8 percent of St. Charles County is food insecure and for the state of Missouri the insecurity rate rises to more than 13 percent. Alarmed by these ever-increasing statistics, Elizabeth wanted to support local food pantries to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award. Elizabeth created a robust meal-kit program that included 30 recipes for pantry clients to use with the ingredients they often receive. Through utilizing the Pantry Meal Kit program, pantry clients learned not only how to cook easy, nutritious meals, but why certain foods are beneficial and what items are needed to form a complete and balanced meal. When utilizing Elizabeth's Pantry Meal Kits, pantries can turn donations into organized meal kits that help their clients live happier and healthier lives. "A visionary leader helps get people on board with a plan while a servant leader helps make sure no one is lost along the way. To complete my Gold Award, I had to be both. While daunting at first, I was able to not only assume the role of a leader, but I discovered I was able to thrive in that role." KRYSTINA BELL To earn her Girl Scout Gold Award, Krystina wanted to empower individuals in urban and land-locked environments to learn how to grow their own food and incorporate these ingredients into traditional recipes from a variety of cultures. Krystina developed an interactive website that teaches families how to plant seeds and grow their own food through step-by-step guides and recipes tailored to home-grown produce. She also partnered with Operation Food Search’s Metro Market, a mobile food market that brings healthy food to the St. Louis metropolitan area. This collaboration allowed her the opportunity to engage directly with community members, offering personalized advice on the available ingredients. By bridging the gap between food access and nutrition, Krystina empowered people to make healthier choices and incorporate fresh, home-grown ingredients into their everyday cooking. "I am passionate about addressing the lack of access to healthy foods, which is a problem faced by many communities across the globe. After meeting with various organizations in the St. Louis area, like Operation Food Search, I am determined to take action on a larger scale."

District 4, Troop 3230 St. Charles West High School 11 years in Girl Scouts

Milestones Girl Scout Bronze Award Girl Scout Silver Award

District 8, Juliette Parkway Central High School 13 years in Girl Scouts

Milestones Girl Scout Bronze Award Girl Scout Silver Award 13-Year Girl Scout 2024 Graduate Girl Scout