Sandy Downes moved to Coronado in 1992 as a single mom with her then 5-year-old daughter, Brianna. At that time, rent for her one-bedroom apartment was $700. She knew she wanted her kindergarten daughter to be part of the community outside of school, and Girl Scouts seemed like a good answer. Having never been a scout herself, Sandy explains she signed her daughter up because of what Girl Scouts (which is part of the larger organization, WAGGGS, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) stood and still stands for, in her words, “an organization for girls where they can try everything”.
Now, 25 years later, Sandy has given more hours of her time than she can calculate, hundreds upon hundreds, as a troop leader and also as a Service Unit Manager. Sandy has led hundreds of girls including two from Kindergarten all the way through high school. In her the initial group of 15, there were two who stayed on the island and in Scouts. Her first girls are now moms and have upcoming girl scouts of their own
Of course, cookie time is the annual big deal for Girl Scouts, and this will be Sandy’s 24th year (her first year here, Brianna was too young for sales). Sandy shares how the girls learn math skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills and confidence from the selling of cookies in addition to raising money for their troop activities. These are some of the examples she shares of the value being involved with scouts has to offer. One of the projects unique to the San Diego/Imperial Council is Operation Thin Mint which was started in 2002. The program allows for people to make a donation of any amount that goes to a fund where cookies are purchased for troops overseas. The cookies are sent to Singapore and dispersed along with cards which can be filled out at cookie sales tables on the island. Cookie sales this year begin on January 28, 2018.
When asked of her favorite memory, without hesitation, when her daughter, Brianna, earned the Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts of the USA, equivalent to becoming an Eagle Scout. A Gold Award is a recognizable achievement for universities and college applications. Girl Scout involvement makes an impression with unending possibilities says Downes.
In addition to a lifetime of service as a volunteer in our community, Sandy has been an employee of the City of Coronado since 1984, starting as an accounting clerk II at City Hall and now, 30 years later, Management Assistant for Recreation and Golf Services Department until March 30, 2018, when she will be retiring from her position to spend time preparing to move closer to her daughter and grandchildren upon her husband’s retirement in a year. She looks forward to leading a troop of Brownies for her granddaughter but will continue to serve in Coronado until she leaves the area.
Sandy said she will keep working with the Girl Scouts until it’s no longer fun. To her, fun is seeing the looks on the girls’ faces when they try new things and it’s watching them grow and learn life through the girl scout experiences and relationships they develop.
After speaking with Sandy, her passion for empowering young girls and women is undeniable. Her contribution to our community and our children continues to be priceless.
Please continue to support our girls and their efforts. If you don’t want to eat a cookie, remember you can make a donation to Operation Thin Mint. One other thing Sandy mentioned was the need for a volunteer who could help create a website for the Coronado Girl Scout troops. If there is anyone who would like to pitch in, please reach out to Sandy via email at [email protected].
