feature story

**This is a story I wrote as an assignment for my Professional Writing class. The assignement was to write a "soft news" story. See below**


Local Girl Scout Troop Helps Support Waukesha Women’s Center


Joan Martin stands in the doorway of the Waukesha Women’s Center, her arms filled with bags. The parcels hold the necessities that will provide for her family for the next week.

The country’s current economic crisis has hit the Martin family hard. Joan, a single mother of two was recently laid off, and while making ends meet has always been a struggle, Joan’s budget has become even tighter as her only income is her unemployment check. “I didn’t know how I was going to feed my kids.” said Joan, her eyes brimming with tears.

Desperate for aid, Joan first turned to her church, but found that the resources there did not meet her needs. “I wasn’t looking for spiritual guidance or charity, I just needed some help taking care of my family.” said Joan sadly. That’s when a friend from church recommended the Waukesha Women’s Center as a place that would help Joan could get back on her feet again. “I didn’t even know the Center existed” said Joan. “I am so glad to have found a place that helps women in my situation in so many ways.”

Thanks to help from the food pantry at the Waukesha Women’s Center, Joan, and other local women have an additional resource to help feed and care for their children.

Founded in 1977, The Waukesha Women’s Center, located at 505 N. East Avenue, is an independent, non-profit human service agency. Its mission is to provide safety and support to women and their families and to aid in their development.

The Center provides services such as shelter, domestic and sexual abuse counseling, legal advocacy, community education, employment counseling, on-site childcare, and a 24-hour crisis line to help families in need.

In addition, the Center also sponsors a pantry which provides food as well as clothes, toiletries, household items, books, and toys for local families.

“The Waukesha Women’s Center depends on donations to help support the programs and assistance it offers.” said Lynne Ketchum, Associate Director.

Due to the deteriorating economy, and rising unemployment numbers in Waukesha, the Women’s Center has seen a recent swell in families requiring aid. “The rise in need for assistance has put a strain on the Center’s resources to the point where our food stores are becoming dangerously low. Without help we will be unable to continue to meet the basic needs of the families we help to support.” said Lynne Ketchum.

Help for the Center has arrived from an unexpected source. Muskego Girl Scout Troop 2807 sponsored a food drive in February which resulted in over 200 pounds of non-perishable items being donated to the Center. In addition to the food drive, the Girl Scouts held a book drive and hosted a spaghetti dinner; proceeds of both were contributed to the Center.

“Helping the Waukesha Women’s Center has been a great experience for all of us.” said Terry Koster, leader of Troop 2807. “It is a great opportunity for the girls to learn about people in their community and what they can do to help others.”

The Women’s Center staff is grateful for the assistance. “Donations from organizations like the Girl Scouts are such an integral part of what we do, said Lynn Ketchum, “the Center would not be here without them. Financial support through the hard work and caring of the girls in the troop is an example of the kind of generosity sustains and inspires us.”

For women like Joan Martin, the Center provides not only food, but also place to help find a job through employment counseling, and emotional support through parenting groups. “I am so grateful to the staff of the Center.” said Joan smiling. “It gives me hope for the future to know I have a place like the Waukesha Women’s Center to turn to.”

My Journalism Article

Girl Scouts of Lake Denoon to Host Spaghetti Dinner and Book Drive

Terry Koster and Patrice Michaels, leaders of Junior Girl Scout Troop 2801 in Muskego, announced today that the troop will host a spaghetti dinner and book drive on March 17th, 2009, from 4:00-7:00pm at Lake Denoon Middle School, located on W216 S10586 Crow Bar Road in Muskego.

Proceeds from the dinner will be donated to help support the Waukesha Women’s Center.

The dinner includes all-you-can-eat salad, spaghetti and garlic bread catered by Leah’s Pizza of Muskego.

Tickets for the dinner are $6 for adults and $2 for children 5 and under.

In conjunction with the spaghetti dinner, the Girl Scouts of Lake Denoon are also asking for donations to their book drive.

The troop is looking for contributions of new and gently used books, games, and puzzles as part of the Girl Scout community service requirement to earn a prestigious Bronze Award.

Items collected at the book drive will also be donated to the Waukesha Woman’s Center.

Founded in 1977, The Waukesha Women’s Center, located at 505 N. East Avenue, is an independent, non-profit human service agency.

Its mission is to provide safety and support to women and their families and to aid in their development.

“The Waukesha Women’s Center depends on donations to help support the programs and assistance it offers to families.” said Lynne Ketchum, Associate Director.

The Center provides services such as shelter, domestic and sexual abuse counseling, legal advocacy, community education, employment counseling, on-site childcare, and a 24-hour crisis line to help families in need.

In addition to the books and proceeds from the dinner, the troop recently sponsored a canned food drive and donated over 200 pounds of food to the Center.

“Helping the Waukesha Women’s Center has been a great experience for all of us.” said Terry Koster, leader of Troop 2807. “It is a great opportunity for the girls to learn more about people in their community and what they can do to help others.”