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Lucia Junkroft Earns Girl Scout Gold Award by Spreading Hope and Mental Wellness Through Her Community

For many, the holiday season is a time of joy. But for others, it can bring stress, financial strain, and feelings of loneliness. Girl Scout Gold Award recipient Lucia Junkroft saw this reality in her own community—and decided to take action.

Lucia created a Giving Tree program paired with mental health resources, designed to support both those in need and those giving back. Her project brought together two powerful ideas: meeting tangible needs during the holidays and addressing the often-overlooked emotional challenges that come with the season.

Inspired by research showing that mental health often declines during the holidays—and that even heart attacks peak on Christmas Day—Lucia asked an important question: Why is a season meant to be joyful so difficult for so many?

Determined to make a difference, she connected two parts of her community: a local social services center serving nearly 1,000 households experiencing poverty and homelessness, and her church parish of approximately 1,000 members.

Through her project, Lucia:

Organized a Giving Tree initiative to provide essential items to families in need
Created and distributed mental health resources through pamphlets, church bulletin ads, a parish talk, and a daily email series
Hosted an ornament-making workshop for children to teach empathy, service, and community connection
Personally delivered gifts to the social services center, where families could “shop” for items for their loved ones

Her work ensured that support extended beyond physical gifts—offering tools to manage stress, anxiety, and loneliness for both recipients and givers.

Lucia’s impact didn’t stop with the holiday season. She developed a comprehensive digital manual—including timelines, contacts, and resources—to ensure the program can continue. She plans to lead the project for the next three years, after which it will be sustained by her church’s social concerns committee.

For Lucia, this project reflects what it truly means to be a Girl Scout.

“Girl Scouts has taught me how to be a leader, how to use my voice with confidence, and how to stand up for people in my community,” she shared. “Being a Girl Scout means I know I am capable of creating meaningful and lasting change in our world.”

Through her leadership, compassion, and commitment to service, Lucia has created more than a project—she’s created a lasting source of hope for her community.

March 20, 2026