Serving the Community

Girl Scouts Miniaturists Patch program FSMC has worked with the Girl Scout Chesapeake Bay Council to develop a miniaturists patch and badge for Junior and Teen girl scouts. More information can be found at the Girl Scouts Chesapeake Bay website

Patches and badges can be purchased here:
http://www.girlscoutbayshop.org/mise.html

Sophia Vassa enjoying the Ronald McDonald House's new doll house

Condemned Dollhouse Saved by Concerned Citizens

The First State Mini Club of Wilmington, DE recently completed a dollhouse restoration for the Ronald McDonald House as a community service project. Funds for the restoration were contributed by the First State Mini Club from the proceeds of their 2003 annual show.

The house was in disrepair, with the roof broken, windows and frames missing, porch broken and the interior badly stained and scratched. The wallpaper was torn and the carpet falling apart. The house was about to be discarded, but the club offered to bring it back to near-new condition, and replaced it with a sturdy "play quality" dollhouse for the children.

The inside was gutted, and refinished with new flooring, wallpaper and mouldings. The outside was stripped of all trim, and repainted. New windows were installed and all new wooden trim. The porch and roof were partly replaced. Members of the club "adopted individual rooms which were furnished by their contributions. Photographs of the house at various stages from the day received until finished will be on display at the club's 2004 show, to be held Sunday March 28 at the Holiday Inn Select, 630 Naamans Road in Claymont, Delaware, just off route I-95.

After completion, the newly refurbished house was returned to the Ronald McDonald house to be auctioned at the American Girl fashion show on February 28 and 29. The proceeds will benefit the organization's activities for children. The dollhouse that was to be thrown away will have a new start in life with the winner, who will hopefully enjoy it as much as the club members did in restoring it.