Local scouts earn Silver

SUBMITTED PHOTOS - TB Health and Wellness, located inside The Emporium, will have copies of the mental health brochure Macy Baker and Anna Mattox created. (Macy Baker, Tayler Bell, and Anna Mattox pictured.)

After months of unwavering commitment and hard work, Anna Mattox and Macy Baker, members of local Girl Scout Troop 2249, have successfully achieved the prestigious Silver Award, a significant milestone and one of the highest honors in Girl Scouting.

For the Silver Award, the girls were tasked with identifying a pressing community issue and providing support. Mattox and Baker were resolute in their choice: mental health awareness, a cause of utmost importance in our community.

After more than fifty hours of research, discussion, and brochure preparation, the girls recently spent the day delivering and speaking to local businesses about the project: a mental health brochure that can provide resources to their struggling peers.

The mental health brochures can be found at NAMI Vigo County, TB Health and Wellness, Brazil Public Library, Gibault/Harsha Outpatient, Clay County YMCA, and Hamilton Center and Family Support Services.

Tayler Bell, owner of TB Health and Wellness, says it was easy to let the girls put their brochures in his business. He understands the struggle of mental illness and hopes this information can help the younger generation.

“I was once a middle schooler dealing with mental illness, and I can’t help but imagine how that could have helped me back then,” said Bell, “It is important what these young ladies are doing because it’s showing kids they are not alone in this if their classmates are passionate enough to be making brochures for awareness. I am so proud of these ladies!”