Kids & Family
Darien Girl Scout Honored: Started Book Club for People with Special Needs
Darien Girl Scout Helene Collins has been awarded Girl Scouts' highest honor for forming a book group for special needs people in Darien.
submitted on behalf of STAR Inc.
Darien resident Helene Collins has coupled her lifelong love of reading with her quest to achieve Girl Scouts’ highest honor, the Gold Award, by forming a weekly book group for local people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The group, Book Buddies, was launched by Helene this summer after researching a similar program in Greenwich called the Next Chapter Book Club, and is geared to bringing meaningful books into discussions that are appropriate for individuals with special needs.
Each week, over a dozen eager participants who live in group homes in Darien and New Canaan run by STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way join Helene to read two or more short stories from the collection, “ Lucky Dogs, Lost Cats and Dating Don’ts” by Jillian Ober.
Helene created a syllabus of appropriate discussion topics about each story to enhance the conversation and allow the participants to become actively engaged with the message of the story and share their opinions and reflections.
Paying for the project out of her own savings from babysitting and birthday gifts, Helene is thankful that her friends at Barrett Bookstore in the Noroton Heights Shopping Center and the Darien Library have allowed her free use of space for the time needed to host her program.
Acknowledging that her family is very proud of her project, she says, “Everybody gets something out of it. I am really glad that I picked this project—I have always loved books and now I can share that with some wonderful new friends each week.”
At the end of the project, Helene, who has been a girl scout for 11 years since the age of five, will present her project to a board for ultimate approval and gold award recognition.
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Even prior to receiving her coveted award, however, Helene is honored “to be able to work with people with disabilities to create a program that is hopefully sustainable and impactful in their lives.”
Kari Ryan, Director of Day Services at STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way says, “Our STAR participants are giving Helene and her Book Buddies program rave reviews. For a young person to dedicate her time and personal resources to improving the lives of others in the community is truly inspirational and worthy of recognition. Her lively book discussions help our people connect with real-life issues and encourages them to share their feelings and independent thinking that are conducive to greater learning.”
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Sheila Daley, owner of Barrett Bookstore in Noroton Heights Shopping Center, Darien, said, “When Helene contacted me I admired her effort, originality and the initiative she took to help others. Having had a brother who was disabled, I know how important these individual efforts are to improve lives. So, in my small way, I am happy to help and host this enthusiastic group.”
Book Buddies, the book club for people with developmental disabilities will meet at Darien Library Conference Room on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on July 29, Aug. 5, Aug. 19, 2014 and Aug. 26. There will be no book club on Aug. 12.
For information about Book Buddies, contact Helene Collins with any questions at hcollins15@students.hopkins.edu
About Star, Inc.
STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way is a local not–for-profit organization established in 1952 to serve individuals of all ages who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as providing support services to their families.
They create opportunities for individuals to live full lives with independence, freedom of choice and personal growth by providing support, services and advocacy.
They inform and encourage the community to recognize and appreciate the value of all individuals.
STAR annually serves nearly 700 individuals from birth through their senior years in Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton, Westport and Weston, providing birth-to-3 early intervention therapies, advocacy and at-home residential support, recreational activities, competitive employment training and placement, day programs, senior programs and respite care.
For more information about STAR, Inc., Lighting the Way please visit their website www.starct.org.
About Girl Scouts of America's Gold Award
The Gold Award of Girl Scouts of America inspires girls scouts to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities.
Gold Award recipients represent the best and brightest of the scouts, undertaking projects that improve their communities and the world. For more information about the girl scouts visit www.girlscouts.org.
Editor's note: We couldn't fit this photo caption under the photo (attached to this article) with the large number of people in it, so here it is: "Darien residents and STAR participants Annie Brautigam, Lauren Lindsey, Todd McInerney, Nicky Dubiago and Jassinia Mysogland. STAR staff members Kari Ryan and Jed Bosworth. Darien resident and group leader Helene Collins with Book Buddy group volunteers Patricia Collins (also of Darien) and Alexie Phelan." (contributed photo and caption)
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