Filling The Void: How Girl Scout Troop 0037 is Dismantling the North Charleston Food Desert
- OKEEBA JUBALO
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
In the 29405-zip code of North Charleston, the distance between a family and a fresh head of lettuce can feel like an ocean. For those without reliable transportation, a three-mile trek to the nearest Food Lion isn't just an inconvenience, it’s a barrier to health. While neighboring areas like the Peninsula see a steady influx of resources and development, pockets of North Charleston have long been classified as "food deserts," areas where nutritious, fresh food is replaced by the limited, shelf-stable options of convenience stores.
But a group of young leaders is refusing to let their community go hungry. Four of the Cadettes of Girl Scout Troop 0037 have spent the past six months moving beyond the traditional badges, setting their sights on a more systemic challenge: food insecurity. Troop members Sade, London, Maya, and Caroline identified food insecurity as a one of the root causes affecting residents in the 29405-zip code of North Charleston.
As part of their Silver Award project—the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve, these young women have launched a sustainable initiative to bring fresh produce, meats, and dairy directly to the heart of North Charleston. More Than a Project: A Mission of Leadership "These are true future leaders for tomorrow," Ms. Vivian Pettigrew, a veteran Girl Scout leader with over 30 years of experience. Having grown up in North Charleston and raised her own daughters in the organization, she has watched this specific group of sixth to eighth graders evolve into a "phenomenal" team. "To see these girls grow, the thoughts that come out of their minds... sometimes it brings tears to my eyes."
The project, titled Feeding 29405, was born from rigorous research. The scouts identified that while their neighbors might have access to food, they lack access to nutrition. "A food desert to me is an area with low access to nutritious foods," explains one of the scouts. "While they might have access to foods that are not necessarily healthy, they don't have access to fresher foods you’d find at a grocery store. Personally, that’s really sad."
The Logistics of Compassion
Planning an initiative of this scale is no small feat for a group of teenagers. The scouts spent countless hours after their regular meetings in a dedicated "war room," calculating budgets, sourcing volunteers, and coordinating with the Humanities Foundation to source fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats. The challenge was daunting: How do four young ladies feed 250 people? The answer lay in community partnership. By collaborating with local businesses and fellow scouts, they developed a model for a recurring food giveaway. On April 4th, the troop will host their primary giveaway, but the vision is long-term. This is a sustainable project designed to occur at least twice a year.
A Call to the Community
The success of Feeding 29405 relies on the very neighbors it seeks to serve. Tanqueray Edwards, a co-leader for the troop, emphasizes that the project is a vehicle for mentorship and collective investment. "It’s important for our girls to get an understanding of what leadership looks like, what giving back looks like, and what building community means—and actively doing that in their own way." The troop is currently seeking community partners to help fuel this mission: •
Sponsor a Truck: For $350, a donor can sponsor an entire truck that feeds 250 people.
Micro-Donations: Contributions of $15 or $20 go directly toward the cost of sourcing fresh food.
Volunteerism: The troop needs hands on deck the day of the giveaway to package and distribute food.
The Power of the Village
For the leaders of Troop 0037, this work is personal. Edwards reflects on her own childhood, having lost her father at age 13, and the "cobbled together" mentors —teachers and band directors—who stepped in to support her. By leading these scouts, she and her co-leaders are paying that debt forward, providing a stable environment where young women can tackle the most pressing issues of their time.
As the girls prepare for their April 4th giveaway, they aren't just handing out groceries; they are handing out hope and proving that no zip code is too deserted for a new generation of leaders to find a way through.
How to Help: • Event Date: April 4th beginning at 10AM, until all food is gone •
Location: 3950 Azalea Dr, Charleston, SC 29405
Get Involved: Sign up to volunteer, mentor, or donate to sponsor a food truck by emailing vspettigrew@gmail.com to ensure this project remains a permanent fixture in North Charleston.
GIRL SCOUT 0037 PARTNERS
Okeeba Jubalo interviewing Girl Scout Troop 0037
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