KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Troop 1899 Girl Scout Avery McKenna received the 2022 Newhouse Youth Volunteer award Saturday night for spending over 100 hours benefitting the Kansas City, Missouri, domestic violence shelter.
Avery planted seeds to cultivate a garden and created a sensory wall in Newhouse's backyard. The space was meant to provide an "escape from reality," a space for those in the shelter to "just sit in a moment and enjoy themselves," Newhouse director of educational innovation Brittany Leathers told KSHB 41 in September.
The Girl Scout first become involved with the oldest shelter in the urban core as part of her work toward achieving the Gold Award, the highest Girl Scout honor.
Through giving back, Avery learned about domestic violence, something she says she “didn’t know a whole lot about” beforehand.
“I think I’m so much better for it coming out of it,” Avery said. “I got to see an issue that I didn’t really know was present in our community, and I helped make a lasting impact for many of the people who live there.”
The volunteer award was given to Avery Saturday night at Newhouse’s Imagine a Day Gala, which provided “an evening of entertainment and inspiration” while raising “essential funding” to continue the shelter’s mission.
KSHB 41’s own anchor and reporter Rae Daniel served as an emcee at the event.
Honored to co-emcee @Newhouse_kc’s ‘Imagine A Day’ Gala with my new friend, Darron Story! Really looking forward to this evening! #newhouseKC pic.twitter.com/7xAFw0pPeO
— Rae Daniel (@RAEtheReporter) November 13, 2022
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