Sarah Clouse has had a good run in the Girl Scouts of America.
The 17-year-old Pine-Richland senior joined the organization in the first grade and remains an enthusiastic member.
To earn her Gold Award -- the highest honor -- the member of Troop 363 combined her love of running with philanthropy and created a 5K race called Miles for Meals.
Dozens of people weathered the rain on a recent Sunday to take laps around North Park. In lieu of an entrance fee, all participants donated a bag of nonperishable food items to North Hills Community Outreach.
Food Pantry Coordinator Natalie Klaum eyeballed the pile of canned goods behind her and estimated that it equaled about $500 worth of food. Pantry cupboards usually are bare this time of year, as clubs and schools are winding down for summer vacation.
"This was a great idea to get people out doing what they like to do and helping the community at the same time," Klaum said.
"I think it's a really good accomplishment," Clouse, a member of the Pine-Richland track and cross country teams, said of her Gold Award. "I'll have a sense of pride for the rest of my life. It's hard and a ton of work, but it'll be worth it to say that I did it."
Creating change in the local or global community is the main objective of a Gold Award project. Scouts must possess strong organizational, leadership and networking skills and spend at least 65 hours in the planning stages, earning various patches along the way.
Bill and Heidi Clouse of Pine say their children, Sarah, Michael and Katie, have learned lifelong lessons through their scouting experiences.
"We truly believe in the ideals of scouting," Heidi said. "I think the values that it teaches, the camaraderie that it brings and the respect for self and the community has really helped them along."
Sarah is one of just a few Pine-Richland students in recent memory to complete Gold Award requirements. Last year, about 5,500 teenagers achieved the honor.
Troop Leader Julie Zimmer hopes all of her members will strive for the recognition.
"It shows dedication and commitment," she said. "Sarah proved to herself and others that she could do it. Sometimes you don't realize you can accomplish something until you try."
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