The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano was surprised with a donation from a group of Girl Scouts. The young leaders donated just over 500 baby items and blankets.

In addition to earning badges and selling cookies, Girl Scouts take part in community service projects. Addison Howell, 13, led a donation drive for Texas Health Plano’s NICU to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award while the others worked on their Bronze Award through this project.

“We made an Amazon wish list and started passing out flyers to my neighbors, family and friends,” Addison said. “So many baby items were donated on the first day. I was not expecting it to be so big.”

The 8 Girl Scouts, ranging in age from 9 to 13, donated baby bottles, light-up crib toys, sound machines and clothing. The younger Scouts made isolette covers, baby blankets, and lovey blankets. The cover provides a stable, cocoonlike environment for premature babies in the NICU.

Peyton Benevides, 11, said she enjoyed working on this project as a group.

“It makes me feel really good to know I was able to help these babies,” Peyton said.

The Girl Scouts met with Jessica Reese, M.S.N., R.N., RNC-NIC, NICU nurse manager at Texas Health Plano, on Friday to drop off the donation.

“We are so incredibly grateful to Troop 1629 for the donation they made to our NICU. We had over 400 babies admitted to the NICU last year, so we are frequently needing to replace developmental toys,” Reese said. “These items really help our families bond with their baby. It helps make a clinical environment warm and comforting, something both our babies and families need. It means so much to see the young leaders in the communities we serve giving back.”