1 in 6 Bay Babies in Need: South River Teen Raises Awareness of Child Poverty

Approximately 10,850 children are living below the poverty line in Anne Arundel County—that's one in six—a number South River High School senior Siena Manoogian found staggering.

"I found out that poverty is really prevalent in Anne Arundel County and it’s a really big issue and I didn’t even know," said Siena, who learned about the county's poverty rates through Food Link when she did an earlier project. Food Link is one of the county's largest organizations feeding the hungry and providing emergency relief to residents in need.

She was so struck by this number, that Siena decided to focus on raising awareness of children living in poverty as her Girl Scout Gold project, titled "Bay Babies in Need: Understanding Poverty in Anne Arundel County." The Gold Project is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, similar to the Boy Scout Eagle Scout designation. 

Her project will supply essential baby items to struggling families in the county.  

Siena has been collecting supplies to make "baby in need" kits that will be supplied to needy families via Food Link's Emergency Baby Pantry. Each kit is made up of about 15 essential baby items—including diapers, bottles pacifiers and even baby layettes.

"Food Link gives them directly to mothers who come in," Siena said.

As part of her project Siena created a video she put on YouTube, laying out poverty statistics in Anne Arundel County, and encouraging people to become more involved.

She hopes her Gold Project will make "meaningful, lasting and positive changes" in the community. 

For more information on how to help, go to Food Link's website.