Sadie Pitigala Earns Girl Scout Gold Award for Sustainable School Supply Project

August 21, 2026

Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey is proud to celebrate Sadie Pitigala, a 9-year Girl Scout who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award by helping students access the school supplies they need while promoting sustainability and reducing waste.

For her Gold Award project, Reuse, Repurpose, and Redistribute, Sadie focused on giving gently used and unused school supplies a new purpose. She saw that backpacks, lunch bags, pencil cases, and other supplies often sit forgotten in homes or end up discarded, even though they still have value. At the same time, many students do not have consistent access to the basic tools they need to learn and succeed.

Sadie’s inspiration came during a family visit to Sri Lanka, where she saw firsthand that many children in some schools lacked even the most essential school supplies. As she learned more, she realized that students in her own community and neighboring communities faced similar challenges. That experience motivated her to take action close to home.

Through her project, Sadie collected, repurposed, and redistributed gently used and unused school supplies to help families, communities, and organizations in need. Her work supported students while also encouraging people to think differently about the items they already have. By extending the life of these materials, Sadie helped reduce waste and showed how sustainability and service can work together to make a meaningful impact.

Sadie also built sustainability into her project so the work can continue beyond her Gold Award. The Westfield Conservation Center will continue accepting donations of gently used backpacks, lunch bags, and pencil cases, which will be redistributed to the YMCA Plainfield Aftercare Program. In addition, Sadie founded the Supplies for Success Club, which will continue collecting gently used school supplies each year, maintaining a supply closet for students at the YMCA Plainfield Aftercare Program, and raising awareness throughout the school and community about the importance of reusing supplies and supporting students in need.

Reflecting on what Girl Scouts means to her, Sadie shared that being a Girl Scout means being a leader who serves her community and others with confidence, compassion, and courage. Through Girl Scouts, she has learned that even small actions can make a meaningful difference, and she has built lifelong friendships, strengthened her leadership skills, and discovered the value of teamwork and giving back.

Sadie’s Gold Award project is a powerful example of how one Girl Scout can turn awareness into action. By connecting sustainability with student support, she created a project that helps meet an immediate need while encouraging long-term community responsibility.

Congratulations, Sadie, on earning your Gold Award. We are proud of your leadership, compassion, and commitment to making the world a better place.