PORTLAND – The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital of Maine Medical Center recently received donations from Gwynne Hunter, a graduating Senior Girl Scout in Troop 514 of Lisbon.

Hunter is working on her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. The award requires at least 65 hours of leadership in the development and implementation of a community service project that has personal significance to the girl.

Hunter’s project, called “Keep the Beat,” focuses on building a love of music with the children of the hospital, where she once was a frequent patient. She and Girl Scout Troop 514 have been visiting the hospital, sharing musical crafts and leading sing-a-longs.

Hunter also involved her wider Girl Scout community in a music badge program where Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts shared in the experience. Participating Girl Scouts helped make tambourines for the sing-a-longs and donated CDs to the hospital music library. Patients can borrow music, games and videos to use in their rooms.

Troop 514 also donated funds to purchase small toy musical instruments for the Boo Boo Box, a treasure chest filled with small rewards for patients who have just undergone a medical treatment in the procedure room. In all, 11 CDs and 40 toy instruments were donated. The donations were received by Sherisse Wormell, coordinator of child life.