Editor’s note: The supplied photo is from Gina P., a member of the Heart Hunters Facebook Group.
Local Girl Scouts in grades 4 and 5 are encouraging the community, businesses, nursing homes, and churches to display hearts in their front windows, as a sign of solidarity as part of the “Heart Hunters” initiative.
This project is a simple reminder for everyone that sees the hearts, that we are a connected and supportive community.
One hundred free kits with ten pre-cut hearts–made by the Girl Scouts as part of their Bronze Award project–will be available at several local businesses throughout Morrison, IL, in early April 2020.
“Heart Hunters” was started by Krista Wynes of Galesburg, IL, in late March, to serve as a scavenger hunt for children walking or driving by during the Illinois stay-at-home order. The idea “went viral” and, within a week, attracted attention from local media and nearly 400,000 Facebook Group users across the Nation. Several similar Facebook Groups were created at about the same time in other regions.
Hearts can be made from any material, in any color. However, optional color associations have emerged, to remember those most impacted by the spread of COVID-19. Girl Scout Troop 1504 kits will follow these color associations:
Pink = Medical, pharmacy, veterinary employees
Red = Fire Fighters, EMTs, dispatchers
Orange = Grocery and restaurant employees, farmers
Yellow = State and County employees
Green = Postal employees, delivery/truck drivers
Blue = Law Enforcement employees
Purple = Media employees
Brown = School and day care employees
White = Those that are sick or caring for a loved one
Black = Those that have lost a loved one.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout in grades 4-5 can earn. It requires each girl to commit 20 hours of service to address a community need.
Morrison Girl Scout Troop 1504 serves girls in kindergarten through grade 6 and is part of Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, a United Way agency.