There Rides a Peace Troop

The Peace Troop was orginated by 12 selfless girls who wanted to make a difference.

That's a quote from L.A. mom Kelly Gibbels who recently wrote to tell me about her brand-new, very grassroots organization. She's technically "the leader," she writes, but the ideas and motivation come squarely from the minds of the young citizens she helps guide.

They are not involved for recognition purposes, to get into the school of their choice or for the latest "Wii" program. They do it because it makes them feel good to live outside their own "bubble," and wish to share their hearts and souls with the world.

Wow. Since these 9-year-olds came together and called themselves a troop, they have participated in beach clean-ups, visited elderly and disabled people and started selling necklaces to raise funds for earthquake victims in Haiti.

Gibbels, a former Girl Scout leader, joined forces with fellow Peace Trooper mom Cheri Hofer to take a hands-on approach to the activities that the group has organically developed and feels that it's made a strong impact on the girls. The girls are certainly engaged in what they're doing, and Gibbels is thinking about expanding and maybe taking the concept to a more "organized" level.

But for now, at least, the group is doing a lot of good – both for themselves and those around them.

So, congrats to Elllie, Lindsey,  Luna, Sophie G., Morgan H., Calia, Talia, Ori, Isabel, Sierra, Sophie S. and Coco for a job well done!