SOUTHWICK – Members of Girl Scout Troop 11220 visited the Board of Selectmen this week seeking acceptance of a donation to the town.
Troop leaders Darlene Arthur and Andrea Cummings brought the girls in to offer $1,000 they earned through bake sales and cookie sales to help fund an adaptive swing and a new defibrillator for Town Hall.
The troop recently worked on obtaining their Junior Bronze Awards with help from Southwick Building and Maintenance Director John Westcott and learned about several needs they wanted to help fulfill, including the defibrillator.
Westcott said he was contacted by Troop Leaders about Town Hall needs and they proposed a donation toward a defibrillator, which Westcott said costs about $1,400-$1,600.
“We do have one, but it’s so old that the it gives instructions no longer taught for CPR,” Westcott said.
The unit does still work but Westcott is concerned about its age.
“I would love to replace it and the Girl Scouts have started us in that direction,” Westcott said, noting there is no line item for the purchase in his budget, but he will review the budget after the start of the fiscal year.
Arthur approached the Parks and Recreation Commission last summer about the adaptive swing, which is much needed at Prifti Park at Town Hall. The new Whalley Park playground is equipped with adaptive swings but Prifti is lacking any adaptive equipment.
Parks and Recreation Assistant Cara Cartello said Prifti Park is used often, so the swing is a welcome addition.
Accessible swings can generally be used by all children, from babies who are just beginning to sit up on their own to school-aged children, usually weighing up to 120 pounds. It is designed for children with movement-limiting handicaps and range in cost from $300-$600.
The Troop invited the Board of Selectmen to its community dinner July 16 where it will present a check to the town.
