Kids & Family

Greeley Student Refurbishes Blythedale Closets for Girl Scout Project

Ever since she was 3 years old, Julia Desmarais has been volunteering for Blythedale Children's Hospital. She also remembers her early work, which included playing with kids who were patients at the Valhalla facility.

Now a 17-year-old Girl Scout, Desmarais has completed one of her most significant contributions to the hospital by refurbishing two of its patient clothing closets, a project that she did in her attempt to earn a Gold Award, which is the highest honor she can get in scouting.

Desmarais, who started the project last summer and is entering her senior year at Horace Greeley High School, was at a reception last week in her honor, complete with staff, her friends and family who supported her.

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“When I started this project a year ago I had no idea that it was going to end up being what it is today,” she said.

The closets are used to store clothing for patients who may not have enough when brought to the hospital, as well as for possession storage.

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When she started, the closets were not in an ideal condition.

“The clothing was in piles, it was stained, it was dirty and the hospital employees couldn't get to what they needed. So they came to me and I offered to help.”

Desmarais said that she reached out to friends and family, who helped her with the overhaul, which including cleaning and trying different organizational methods until they found something that worked for the space.

Newer clothing was gathered through donations, mostly at scouting events, while bins were donated by a company. An organizational change involved hanging strollers with hooks so that they wouldn't block space for walking.

Desmarais, who is a New Castle resident, has been a Girl Scout since she was 5. She will present her work next month to a committee, who will decide whether to give her a Gold Award.

Her mother, Laura Demarais, started volunteering at Blythedale at the same time.

“It's an extraordinary moment of pride for a parent to watch a child mature in this way and to be able to take on a project of this size,” said her mother, who noted the issues of navigating requirements and bumps in the road.

Aside from the closet project, Demarais' work at Blythedale has included decorating a room for the holiday season and running a workshop for scouts to learn about therapy for patients.

“She definitely left her imprint on Blythedale,” said Jill Wegener, the hospital's chief nursing officer. Wegener praised Demarais for the initiative, calling it a “really comprehensive, well-thought out, lasting project.”

Demarais is nearing the end of her scouting due to her time at Greeley winding down. Asked what it's like to be coming to the end of a long journey, she replied it's “exciting but also kind of nerve wracking.” Another big priority for Demarais will be applying to colleges.


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