The visitors to Guardian Angel School in Pacoima wore sashes and smiles. Their reception at the campus, like the weather Sept. 18, was very warm, indeed.

Six seventh grade Girl Scout Cadettes from St. John Eudes in Chatsworth and their three parent leaders delivered boxes and boxes of educational supplies to their sister school's student body --- a service project that the recipients much appreciated.

"I'm really grateful to the Girl Scouts of St. John Eudes," said Mario Landeros, principal at Guardian Angel School. "This community has suffered a lot from the economic crisis. It's a breath of fresh air for the school parents [since] they won't have to spend money on school supplies. The students are really grateful."

The Girl Scouts of Troop 1935 teamed up to carry the heavy boxes, which were filled with 55 different kinds of supplies --- 11,614 items altogether, counted and inventoried. Among them: #2 pencils (5,531), pens (2,706), spiral notebooks (358), reams of copy paper (39), playground balls (18) and a USB drive.

According to troop co-leader Monica Barnett, the girls came up with the idea to organize a school donation drive for their sister parish to attain their Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award achievable at the Cadette level. Last year, the girls earned their Bronze award by organizing a children's craft booth for a special event at a wheelchair accessible park.

"I like the Girl Scouts because we get to do a lot of service projects to help other people," said St. John Eudes' Elena Akins, 12. For "Project Guardian Angel," the scouts spent a weekend in late August taking turns speaking at all of St. John Eudes' Masses requesting school supplies. The following two weekends, they were present to collect the donations.

"We estimate that $2,000-3,000 worth of supplies were collected. My living and dining rooms were full," said Barnett, who described the girls as ecstatic at the results of the collection campaign. "Seeing everything together --- sorting, counting and boxing the supplies --- their hearts are just full of pride that they were able to do this and help people," she added.

"We've had an overwhelming response from the parishioners and school community at St. John Eudes. I don't think the girls realized it was going to be such a big project," said Michele Altamirano, troop co-leader. "We've had a lot of comments from parishioners and school families and friends on what a great idea it was to do this."

Co-leader Shannon Wetzel noted many people in the community have heard about the project and want to donate after hearing presentations the girls have made at regional Girl Scout leader service meetings. "I've told people, 'It doesn't matter how much you're giving.' When you put it all together, it's amazing how much it really is," said Wetzel.

Guardian Angel third grade teacher Carina Diaz told The Tidings she appreciated the supplies handed out by the Girl Scouts to her students. "This is a God-send because I was actually about to pass out writing folders that I had purchased out of my own pocket," said Diaz, a parishioner at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Santa Clarita, who willingly commutes to the north San Fernando Valley to teach at Guardian Angel School because "the religious aspect is uplifting."

Guardian Angel junior high leaders meeting with the Girl Scouts during morning recess shared with The Tidings how the supplies would benefit the student body. "I think all the supplies are going to help us study. [Also] a lot of us are athletic, so we'll be able to play more with the [sports equipment] donations," said Eric Orosco, eighth grader.

"I think the donations will help us a lot because we have few supplies," said Kimberly Hernandez, eighth grader, who mentioned the constant problem of lost balls that sail over the roof of the school. Eighth grade classmate Alexis Jaramillo said the donated athletic equipment "will help us in sports because we don't have that many balls for recess and sports."

Girl Scout Taylor Barnett told The Tidings that Project Guardian Angel made her feel great "because I know the students can get a good education and that's what good people deserve."