SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Since its inception, the Greenhaven Pocket Farmers Market (GHP) has believed the value of a life is determined by the lives it touches. If we desire to live purposefully and successfully, then we must contribute to enhancing the lives of others.

As part of that philosophy, the GHP does not charge charitable organizations a fee for having a booth at the market.

This summer, among the vendors are two Girl Scouts working on their Silver Award Project, which is the highest award for Girl Scouts in their age group. The Gold Award is actually the highest award but it’s for older girls.

Sydney Lin is excited to share her project. She tells everyone stopping at their booth, “My troop is working on our Silver Award. Our project is to help breast cancer patients by making heart-shaped pillows that they can use after surgery.”

Her partner, Hannah Gravvat, will present a handout and ask, “Did you know that in the United States, as many as one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer?”

The girls are members of Troop 569-36. Their handout explains that one form of treatment is having a surgery called a mastectomy. 

Sydney notes, “The pillows we’re making protect the patient’s surgery site from various things, like the pressure from a seatbelt, and reduce any discomfort they might feel.”

The girls are proud to claim that another aspect of their project is to raise awareness and share the importance of these pillows with the community. Visitors to their booth at the GHP Farmers Market learn how to make a pillow themselves, which they can donate to a hospital or give to a loved one. Sydney and Hannah said in unison, “This way, people can continue to make pillows to help breast cancer patients recover faster.”

While Sydney and Hannah were manning their Hearts for Healing booth on Saturday, June 8, the Sacramento Girl Scouts Council was holding their summer lifeguard training in Elks 6 Lodge’s swimming pool. Bob Van Gundy, who is Elks 6’s scouting chair, beamed with broad and happy smile that the Lodge was helping Girl Scouts in more than one way.

A Girl Scout Cadette in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade can find an issue they care about and then make a difference in their community. They can earn the Girl Scout Silver Award — one of the highest awards in Girl Scouting.

Barbara Cherry, who is a former Chaplain of Elks 6, is extremely proud that GHP is playing a role in these two young girls making the Greenhaven Pocket community a better place. Barbara, who is a breast cancer survivor, is the webmaster for the GHP Farmers Market located at Elks Lodge 6.

Barbara emphasized that, “All charity at GHP is for local events and organizations. GHP stands for a better community.”

Everyone is welcome to leave a message for the girls at the GHP Farmers Market information booth on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The message will be forwarded to the girls.

Sydney and Hannah have a flyer that details how to make a mastectomy pillow. All you need are the following materials:

Two 15” x 15” pieces of a soft fabric like cotton or linen

Fiberfill stuffing

A needle and thread

A sewing machine

Scissors

Instructions:

1. Trace a heart on your fabric. You can freehand it or print out a pattern.

2. Cut out both layers and flip out one layer so that the colored sides face each other.

3. Sew the two layers together. Leave a 2 to 3” gap on one side of the heart to stuff it.

4. Clip the edges of the middle of the heart to avoid puckering.

5. Turn the heart right side out and stuff it. Then hand-sew the gap closed. We recommend using a ladder stitch because the stitches will be harder to see.