All dressed up and someplace to go

By Mike Kunkle

Center for Civic Education and Service

When they heard a local radio station's on-air request for help in outfitting a troop of Girl Scouts with new uniforms, FSU alumni Kevin Kelly (B.S. '73) and Kathleen Kelly (B.S. '85) -- now owners of Kevin's Sporting Goods in Tallahassee -- responded quickly.

The Kellys, who had recently decided to discontinue selling Girl Scout uniforms, offered to donate their remaining stock to the troop.

Other FSU grads, students and J.C. Penney responded as well, altogether pledging more than 48 new uniforms to the troop in one day.

The call for contributions was the result of a simple phone call from an FSU "Serve and Learn" volunteer, Elaine Sherman, to WBZE disc jockey Jim Avery. Sherman, a marketing major who has just graduated, had learned during her work with the Frenchtown - FSU program, a volunteer effort in the disadvantaged community, that the Frenchtown Girl Scout troop couldn't participate in some scout activities because they didn't have uniforms, which cost more than $60 each.

"I know how important it is for little boys and girls to identify with others," Sherman said.

The idea of helping others is not new to her. As an FSU senior, she took one of the university's 128 courses that include community service as part of the curriculum.

The Center for Civic Education and service has opened to publicize and coordinate the service curriculum and other service opportunities for students, faculty and alumni. For more information about the center's projects, call Bill Moeller at 904-644-3342 or go by the center at 930 West Park Avenue in Tallahassee.