of Change

Companion Guide

AGENT

C4C Club
My New Red Shoes

Take Action with My New Re d Shoes!

Making the World a Better Place

How to use this guide

Are you an aspiring agent of change? This guide will help you tap into your power to help girls have the clothing and shoes they need to attend school with moxie! Take Action with My New Red Shoes and become part of our C4C Club a team that works the Power of Community for good!

Dont Forget...
... to check out My New Red Shoes guide for Girl Scout Juniors at www.mynewredshoes.org so you know what we do and why. While youre there, learn how Juniors can Discover, Connect and Take Action with My New Red Shoes!

Making the World a Better Place

Icebreakers
Use these clothing and shoe-themed icebreakers to get to know the girls on your Journey!

If the Shoe Fits...

Ask your troop leader to write each half of the shoe-related sayings below on sheets of paper then attach one paper to each girls back without letting her see what is written. Once all of the papers are attached, the girls will ask each other questions to figure out who completes their saying. Once the pairs find one another, they should discuss one fashion item they both own and another that makes them unique. Each pair should then share their findings with the full group. If the shoe fits ...wear it Kick up ...your heels These boots ...were made for walking Goody ...two shoes Start off ...on the right foot Waiting for ...the other shoe to drop Pull yourself up ...by your bootstraps Take a walk ...in someone elses shoes

Confidence Candy
This game requires candy that comes in five or six colors (like gummy bears, gumdrops M&Ms or Skittles). Each Junior should choose anywhere from one to five pieces of candy of any color (dont eat them yet!). The troop leader will then tell the girls what each candy color represents: Color #1 Something that you wear that makes you feel confident Color #2 Something that you wear that makes you feel self-conscious Color #3 A memory of one of your first days of school Color #4 A time in your life that clothing or shoes really made a difference Color #5 Wildcard (tell us anything about yourself that relates to clothing and/ or shoes!) Next, each girl will introduce herself in turn, saying one fact for each of the colored candies she chose.

Making the World a Better Place

Clothing Relay
Enjoy this game when you need to get off your journey highway to catch some fresh air or get your blood flowing.

You Will Need:

Lets Play!
Split into two teams. Give the first team the ill-fitting clothing and shoes and the second team the appropriately-sized clothing and the shoes each girl wore to the meeting. Each team should stand in a line behind their pile of clothing and shoes. When the relay race begins, the first girl in each line will put on a pair of shoes as well as a top and bottom from the pile.

A pair of little-kid shoes An adult-sized jacket or shirt Adult-sized pants A jacket that would just about fit all of the girls in your troop A skirt that is made for a fourth- or fifth -grade girl Your own shoes!

Once shes dressed, the girl will run to a designated spot and back, remove the clothes, and place them in the pile for the next girl to use. Once the relay is complete, switch! Give the ill-fitting clothes and shoes to the team that did not have them the first time. Ask the girls on the other team to retrieve their shoes and place them nearby. Repeat the race.:

Think About It!

Did you have fun during the relay? How would it feel to wear clothing and shoes that were either too big or too small all the time? Do you think it would affect how you acted and performed at school? What do you think other kids would say?

Making the World a Better Place Making the World a Better Place

THAt is power!
When youre learning about power in Session 1, consider the following true stories below of girls who flexed their power with My New Red Shoes.

The Power of One!

On her fifth birthday, Lizzie* decided to ask her party guests not to bring presents. Instead, she requested that they bring brand new shoes for children in need. Lizzie collected enough shoes that day to help My New Red Shoes provide 15 homeless children with brand new footwear for school. Now thats the power of generosity!

The Power of Team!

This troop worked as a team to sew dozens of back-to-school gift bags for My New Red Shoes. Handmade and signed by the girls with a label wishing the children a happy first day of school, these gift bags and the Girl Scouts who made them helped the homeless and low-income children who received the bags to feel special and cared for on their first day of school.

The Power of Community!

These four teens tapped into the Power of Community by planning a 5K walk/run event for families called Step by Step to benefit the children served by My New Red Shoes. They planned the route, spread the word, and made the event a huge success, drawing 40 runners who supported 144 homeless children in Redwood City and Menlo Park, and Santa Clara California.

Making the World a Better Place

*Name changed for privacy.

Trading cards
Check out My New Red Shoes Dream Team and think of other women you know who have helped girls look and feel good so they can put their best foot forward at school!
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Making the World a Better Place

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Making the World a Better Place

Why my new Red Shoes?

Why should you Take Action with My New Red Shoes? Because we combine up-front and behind-thescenes action to make immediate and long-term change in the community.

The problem:
For some children, succeeding in school can be extra challenging. Consider the following: Families who struggle to pay the rent or have enough money to buy food often cant afford clothes and shoes for their kids. As a result, children from homeless and low-income families often skip school or go to school day after day wearing ill-fitting, unseasonable handme-down clothing, sometimes the same outfit over and over again. One study showed that of the homeless children who did not attend school in Santa Clara County, California, 21% did not do so because they did not have any or the right school clothing. Homeless children are nine times more likely to repeat a grade, four times more likely to drop out of school, and three times more likely to be placed in special education programs than their housed peers.

How it affects kids:

Children who dont have appropriate school clothing and shoes: Often feel physically uncomfortable. If their shoes dont fit or are falling apart, their feet can hurt, making it hard for them to play on the playground or do sports. If their only shirt is short-sleeved, they may be cold. If its long-sleeved, they may be too hot. Theyre embarrassed. Kids who dont like the way theyre dressed have a hard time concentrating in class and avoid other children on the playground. Theyre often teased or bullied because of what they wear.

How My New Red Shoes Helps:

We give homeless and low-income kids brand new shoes, a $50 clothing gift card, a little something special (like an accessory or school supply) and a handmade card all in a gift bag sewn by a volunteer.

Making the World a Better Place

The gift of Confidence

New school clothing and shoes make all the difference! My New Red Shoes receives thousands of stories and thank you letters every year from the children we serve. Here are just a few. For more stories and letters from the children, check out My New Red Shoes Guide for Juniors at www.mynewredshoes.org.

I really appreciate your kind and wonderful heart. It means a lot to me. Now I can rock my shoes and rock my style!" Kimberly

Thank you for the shoes.

I really

appreciate what you are doing for this community. It is people like you guys that make a difference to our world. The shoes mean so much to me. Thank you again. Cindy, 14 years-old

I know you dont know me and that just makes this even better to know that there are people out there who care.Thank you deeply. Something as small as this to most people means a lot to us.

Making the World a a Better Place Making the World Better Place

How can juniors help?

Below are just a few ideas about how you can complete your Agent of Change Take Action project with My New Red Shoes. Lets see how far you can extend your circle of power! Organize a Shoe Drive! Tap into the Power of Community! Let others know why its important for all children to have comfortable, appropriate shoes for school then tap into your web of community to collect shoes for children in need. Check out the attached shoe donation guidelines as well as www.mynewredshoes.org for facts and pictures to use on your posters and publicity materials.

Decorate First Day Cards and Sew Back-to-School Gift Bags Use the Power of One to create your own inspirational artwork and messages wishing children in need a happy first day of school. Then sew special gift bags in ten easy steps. You have the power to create a heartfelt gift with the potential of creating a spiral effect in the life of a child. For first day card templates and sewing instructions, please visit us on the web at www.mynewredshoes.org.

Art for Change We love your art, stories, and videos! Create a masterpiece that communicates the importance of the work we do and we will display it in our office and warehouse space to inspire others! Inspire Younger Girl Scouts by teaching them about our mission then empower them to Take Action through the Power of Team! Check out the fun games and activities for younger girls at www.mynewredshoes.org.

To get started on these or other project ideas, please contact My New Red Shoes Manager of Community Outreach and Education at(650) 375-2648 or by emailing outreach@mynewredshoes.org.

Making the World a Better Place

You now belong to the C4C Club! What does C4C mean?

C4C Club
My New Red Shoes

C4C stands for Clothing For Confidence and being part of the C4C Club means that youve worked through the Power of One, Power of Team, and Power of Community to help home-

less and low-income children arrive at school dressed for success and ready to learn! You are now part of an exclusive group of kids who help My New Red Shoes make the world a better place.

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Make it Official!
Display your own C4C Club badge, button or keychain with pride! Just make a color copy of this page, cut out the C4C Club button above, and attach to cardboard or laminate with clear packing tape. Punch a hole, stick to a safety pin or attach a key chain and youre done! When others ask what C4C means, tell them all about your work with My New Red Shoes.

Your photo here!

Making the World a Better Place

Congratulations!

www.mynewredshoes.org 111 Anza Blvd. Suite 110 Burlingame, CA 94010 outreach@mynewredshoes.org (650) 375-2648

For More Information

Contact My New Red Shoes Manager of Community Outreach and Education at outreach@mynewredshoes.org or (650) 375-2648

Making the World a Better Place