GREENFIELD — Allison Stoner painstakingly arranged the Samoas, Trefoils, Tagalongs, Thin Mints and more on clear plastic plates — each cookie in just the right place.
The 6-year-old then placed the plates on a rolling cart and took them around the parlor of Springhurst Health Campus, greeting residents and offering cookies and a smile to the seniors who showed up to play bingo Saturday.
As Girl Scout troops across the county made their rounds, selling the seasonal favorites, one member of Daisy Troop 1971 in Greenfield took some time to give back. After receiving a $250 donation, Allison set out on a mission to brighten the days of senior citizens, local first-responders and more — with the help of 62 boxes of sweet treats.
She visited with firefighters, nursing home residents, volunteers and visitors at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen and dispatchers at the county’s 911 dispatch center.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryAllison’s uncle, Jeff Stoner, usually buys $250 in Girl Scout cookies every year from his niece, but this year, he made a donation of the same amount to her instead — in the interest of sticking to his new diet, said Allison’s mother, Autumn Stoner.
Allison’s eagerness to pay it forward impressed her parents, said dad Brian Stoner.
“She’s got a very kind, loving heart for others,” he said.
As Allison and her family made their rounds throughout the community, many recipients were eager to show their thanks. On Friday, the firefighters working at Sugar Creek Township Fire Department Station 42 took Allison and her little sister, Katie, on a tour of the firehouse and one of its fire engines and gave them coloring books and their own fire helmets in return.
On Saturday, some two dozen Springhurst residents were delightfully surprised by the little girl passing out goodies.
Mary Watson, a certified rehabilitation counselor at Springhurst, introduced Allison to the day’s bingo players. Suddenly feeling shy, Allison ducked her head and began handing out the plates of assorted cookies.
One resident, Lois Batts, thought the Stoner family had arrived to sell cookies but cried out “You’re kidding!” when Brian Stoner explained they were giving them out for free.
Watching Allison go from person to person Saturday reminded staff members how thankful they are for the support they have in the community, said Rondy Feller, Springhurst Health Campus life enrichment director.
Allison’s mother just hoped the gesture would prompt goodwill in others.
“We just hope somebody else gets inspired to do something nice,” Autumn Stoner said.
