Girl Scouts surprise seniors on Valentine’s Day

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

Senior Girl Scouts in Troop 8195 surprised dozens of senior citizens in Poway and Rancho Bernardo on Valentine’s Day.

For the eighth year, the Poway-based troop spent some of its cookie sale profits on purchasing dozens of red heart-shaped Mylar balloons and randomly presented them to seniors they encountered, said Alison Lizarraga, the Girl Scouts Blue Sky Service Unit manager.

They found their recipients by visiting area nursing homes, assisted living homes such as Solaris Senior Living Community in Poway and private residences. The girls also presented balloons to seniors they encountered in local grocery store parking lots, like the Rancho Bernardo Albertsons, and seniors taking an evening walk in their neighborhood, Lizarraga said.

“This sometimes forgotten part of our community should be considered the ‘greatest generation’ because of the conditions they faced and the greatness of how they overcame it,” she said. “The girls visited with them for a few minutes (to) wish them a Happy Valentine’s Day and to spread a little love.”

The Girl Scouts who participated in this year’s Valentine’s Day balloon distribution were Rancho Bernardo High students Kendal Harter, Sammy Lizarraga and Rebecca Rinaldi; Poway High student Torrey Hirning and Santa Fe Christian student Savannah Reed-Plouffe.