HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 17-year-old Girl Scout from Hutchinson can do a little bragging. Lacy Bower managed to get the Gold Award for a project she did back in June to help a local non-profit. She talks of what the Gold Award is.

“The Gold Award Project for Girl Scouts is the highest award is the highest standard in Kansas Heartland of America,” said Bower. “You have to be a Senior or Ambassador Girl Scout to achieve this standard level of girl scouts and get it approved to go and actually get it going.”

She explains that she raised money and items for a local non-profit for the project, which meant of lot of standing.

“I collected toiletries and money donations standing in front of Walmart for the last three weekends of June,” said Bower. “I collected 146 dollars short of $5,000 worth of toiletries.”

She is counting those dollars prior to any taxes being taken of the purchase.

So which non-profit benefited from this effort? One that she’s helped in the past and helps those who have been battered or abused.

She says the money and toiletries they collected will go to Brighthouse, which is the non-profit she chose. None of the money, gift cards or other items goes to the Girl Scouts.

Brighthouse is a local organization that strives to eliminate sexual assault and domestic violence in Reno, Rice, Kingman and Harper Counties.