Las Vegas Girl Scout receives Gold Award for her work for homeless youths

It may take a village to raise a child, but it only takes one child to make a difference.

Samantha Schuetze, 15, is out to make a difference in the lives of those who are living on the edge.

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, she started a new nonprofit called Helpful Hand Off Kits. It provides needed items to the homeless. As much as she gives, she said she gets something back.

“I just really like community service, and it makes you appreciate things so much more,” Schuetze said.

So far, the project has delivered 30 kits to Shade Tree, which takes in women who are fleeing physically abusive relationships, nearly 100 kits to Catholic Charities for the disabled, two dozen to the Salvation Army in San Diego and an undetermined amount to Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

“We’ll change (what’s collected) based on the season. Like, for winter, we’ll add hats,” she said.

Most recently, local alumni of Pepperdine University adopted her charity for its Step Forward Day, a day of giving back. They joined Schuetze Sept. 10 at the partnership, 4981 Shirley St. There, they put together 130 kits and handed them to those in need. The kits contain items such as water bottles, nonperishable food such as protein bars, gum and hygiene items that include toothpaste and toothbrushes.

“People appreciate what you’re doing. Even receiving the littlest thing — something that you take for granted — they’re just so grateful, and it’s really cool,” Schuetze said.

Besides items, she donated money — more than $2,000 — that day for the partnership. Raised through a GoFundMe account, the $2,000 was accumulated in two months, and money continues to come in. Her goal is to raise $5,000.

Schuetze has been involved in charity work for years, helping various organizations such as Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Three Square and Baby’s Bounty.

Her mother, Paula, said she was pleased with her daughter’s choice of projects for her Girl Scout award.

“She came up with something that, in my mind, would require her to meet people in circumstances she was not accustomed to,” she said. “… The whole process pushed her boundaries. She had to talk to people, seek out donations, ask for assistance, and it forced her to get out.”

A sophomore at Faith Lutheran High School, Schuetze enjoys English and science, and while she’s done preliminary investigations of a few colleges in Southern California — USC, UCLA and Pepperdine — she is unsure of her career choice. When she graduates from Faith Lutheran, Schuetze said she will find another Faith Lutheran student who is as passionate volunteering and hand off running the nonprofit to them.

“Don’t give up. Even if somebody says no, don’t get discouraged,” Schuetze said. “You’ll reach your goal if you try hard enough.”

To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.