By Cameron Valdez
The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent
Girl Scout Junior Troop 31214 organized the inaugural Tooth Brush Run in an effort to raise awareness of homelessness in the community.
Participants in the one-mile run, which was June 2 at the Steinbrenner Club House on County Line Road in Lutz, were only asked to bring a toothbrush and toothpaste. The supplies were donated to Homeless Education and Literacy Project (HELP), which helps homeless people in the community.
The troop collected 630 toothbrushes and 702 tubes of toothpaste.
“I loved seeing the big donation box filled with toothbrushes and toothpaste knowing that it would help people,” said troop member Grace Becker.
The event was part of the scouts’ Bronze Award, which is the highest honor they can receive for their age group. Troop leader Kristi Drablos said the girls wanted to find a way to make a big difference even though they are only in fourth and fifth grades.
“(The troop) looked into the community to see where they thought needed the most help, and they decided to help the homeless,” Drablos said.
HELP uses supplies like those collected at the run to assist families and children by eliminating barriers to school enrollment, school attendance and overall academic success.
Dr. John Metz, of Metz Orthodontics, sponsored the event, providing water, sports drinks and healthy snacks to the runners after they completed the course.
Metz said he wanted to sponsor the event in part because of its connection to oral health.
Metz took pride in seeing the girls organize the event as they learned “valuable leadership skills, how to interact with adults and how to plan something. It’s just something to be really proud of in our community.”
As for the race, Isabel Brown was the first to cross the finish line, completing the course in 6 minutes 46 seconds.
