“I pulled my wagon and door-knocked,” she says. “I loved to sell cookies.”
Now, as an adult Girl Scout volunteer, Quinton has been helping with the cookie sales and other youth activities for more than a quarter of a century.
The Troy-area woman was recently recognized for her volunteer work with the Girl Scouts. Last month, HandsOn West Central Ohio honored Quinton with the Miami County Volunteer of the Year Award.
Ashley Thoreen from Girl Scouts of Western Ohio nominated Quinton for the award. She reports that Quinton has volunteered hundreds of hours coordinating the annual cookie sale and fall sales drive for Girl Scout troops in the Troy and Miami East school districts.
Quinton’s responsibilities have included coordinating the delivery of cookies and products to troop members at the Miami County Fairgrounds twice annually. There she spends eight to 10 hours greeting troops, managing delivery lines and answering questions. She also assists at the Girl Scout Regional Service Center in Dayton.
As a child, Quinton participated in Girl Scouts. When her daughter, Kerri, was 2 years old, she became an adult co-leader for a local troop. Soon, she found herself involved in the annual cookie sale and the Girl Scout booth and activities at the Ohio State Fair.
When her daughter graduated from high school, Quinton stepped down as a troop leader. Yet, she’s remained involved with the Girl Scouts. She volunteers for the cookie sale, fall fundraising sale and the Ohio State Fair.
The cookie sale work begins around December with training, then continues into January with taking orders. It wraps up with deliveries and sales in March. For Quinton, it’s a good winter project.
“At that time of year, it’s too nasty to be outside,” she says.
In the summertime, her attention turns to the Miami County Fair and the Ohio State Fair.
“I’ve always loved the fair,” she says.
In addition to working with the Girl Scouts, Quinton is a longtime adviser for the Lostcreek Cloth and Clovers 4-H Club.
For years, she has been instrumental in Girl Scout activities at the Ohio State Fair. This involves taking entries, working with Scouts on setting up a booth, planning daily activities for Scouts and the public, and selling cookies.
During the Ohio State Fair, Quinton stays in the dorm on the fairgrounds. However, she says there is little time for sleeping. The booth is open for 12 hours a day. After it closes, she is helping Scouts sell cookies at the fair entrance.
But it’s obvious that it’s a task she enjoys. She says she really enjoys working with children.
Do you know of someone who should be featured in Hereabouts? Send an email to Beth Sears at sears@erinet.com or call her at (937) 448-0101.
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