The girls of Girl Scout Troop 3620 are working to make children’s lives a little brighter.

The Lehighton-area troop used this year’s cookie sale campaign to launch a service project, collecting donations to create comfort backpacks for children in the Children and Youth Services system.

“Every year during cookie season, we have cookies that we get to donate,” Tanya Kemp, troop leader, said. “The girls get to pick who they give it to. They went through a lot of different scenarios, like doing for soldiers or the police department. Last year, we took them to the high-rise for the elderly people.

“So this year, the girls wanted to do something for children.”

Kemp said the girls considered donating to pediatric cancer centers and other organizations before developing a unique way to distribute the cookies while also supporting children facing difficult circumstances.

The troop decided to create comfort backpacks to donate to Children and Youth Services for children who may need to be removed from their homes.

The girls have collected personal care items, stuffed animals, activities and other comfort items to help brighten what can be a traumatic experience.

“A lot of times, when kids have to go into emergency placement, they don’t get the opportunity to get anything from home,” Kemp said. “So we’ve put in a stuffed animal, some blankets, little toys and trinkets, and Girl Scout cookies in the bags. That way, when they open their bags, they’ll have a snack in there and some comfort items.”

Scout Adilyn Shanton said the project has taught the troop the importance of giving back.

“I’m so glad we get to do these things for children who don’t have a lot,” she said. “It makes us feel really good inside.”

The girls have worked on the project for several weeks and recently began assembling the backpacks.

Kemp praised the troop for looking inward to find ways to help others.

When asked how many backpacks would be made, Kemp said the total would depend on donations collected.

“We take what we can get and add to it a bit as we go,” she said, adding that anyone interested in donating can reach out to a member of the troop. “If people want to donate, we’ll take donations whenever people have them.”

Those interested also can contact troop leaders Carissa Gillespie, Stephanie Gombert, Rya Hartman, Katie Eckert or Kemp.

“When people see the girls selling cookies, that’s what they associate Girl Scouts with,” Kemp said. “But they don’t realize that it’s teaching girls how to be future leaders and how to participate in their community and do things for other people. This project is really showing that it’s more than just the girls standing out there selling cookies.”