Local Girl Scout Olivia Prochnow Achieves Distinguished Honor

Local Girl Scout Olivia Prochnow

Achieves Distinguished Honor

Olivia Prochnow, of Cedar Rapids, IA, Troop 8106, has achieved the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts, by creating Comfort Care Kits for children experiencing foster care at Four Oaks Family Connections. The kits, which

contain a blanket, notebook, puzzle book,

stuffed animal and fidget toy, were assembled so that children transitioning into foster care would have something special and comforting of their own during a challenging time in their lives.

"I feel that each kit distributed gave the

children transitioning into foster care a more positive experience and immediate comfort to the recipients. The kits are something given to each child and it is something they can take and can call their own," says Prochnow.

Every year, children enter the foster care system because they have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their guardians. All of these

children have experienced loss and personally deal with trauma. Whether they are in need of a feeling of safety, entertainment or an outlet to share emotions and frustration, Olivia's Comfort Care Kits work to make a child's time in the

foster care system a more positive and

comfortable experience. Because of Olivia's work, the Outreach Committee at Holy

Redeemer Lutheran Church will continue

providing the kits to children at Four Oaks

Family Connections in the future.