Westerly Teen Jessica Scales Wins National Honors for Community Service

Westerly Teen Jessica Scales Wins National Honors for Community Service

Jessica Scales is one of two Rhode Island teens honored this winter by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a national program that honors youth volunteerism. Scales, 17 and a senior at Westerly High School, helped develop and now leads a nonprofit organization that mobilizes Mini Cooper car owners in the Northeast to collect and transport toys for terminally ill children in an annual toy run.

Since founding MINI's Making a Difference (MMAD) in 2003, more than 8,000 toys and $98,000 in donations have been distributed. MMAD also has recruited Mini owners to collect toys and raise funds for Toys for Tots, and fill their cars with food items for a food bank in desperate need of donations. In addition, MMAD collected clothing, baby formula and other items for a family that adopted several children from Haiti after that country’s devastating earthquake, and, closer to home, delivered donations to local residents displaced by flooding in Jessica’s hometown of Westerly. Jessica advertises MMAD’s activities, organizes volunteers, coordinates with the charities that MMAD supports, and manages many of the other functions necessary to holding successful events. “MMAD brings hope to those who need it most,” said Jessica. “I love watching families smile and laugh during difficult times.”

GoLocalProv caught up with Jessica in between the hectic demands of her senior year, to talk about her love of service, and her plans for the future.

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How did you begin doing community service? I got started in community service through family inspiration. My parents have a scholarship foundation, and I worked with them at a young age in various fundraising activities.

What inspired the MINI project? In 2003, my dad purchased a Mini Cooper and felt that it would be a perfect opportunity to create another charity to give back; Minis-Making-A-Difference was founded.

What have you learned through this kind of work? To be thankful for the life I have, and by my actions to have hopefully made a difference in the lives of those in a time of need.

What are your plans for college, career? I am planning to enter a Pre-Med program in the fall and would like to carry on with the Minis-Making-A-Difference in the college’s community. When I become a doctor, I plan on offering a portion of my services at no charge for the less fortunate.

What has surprised you most about engaging in this project? It is amazing how a Mini Cooper can bring so many people together and has given the participants an avenue to donate their time and money to the charity.

Jessica will travel to Washington, DC, to meet her fellow state honorees, later this year. For more information on Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, go here.