Bailey Mueller, left, will receive her Silver Star Award in Girl Scouts after she hosts a donation drive for the Mower County Humane Society this weekend at the Oak Park Mall. - Photo provided

A local Girl Scout is not only moving up the ranks, she’s making a difference while doing it.

Bailey Mueller, a freshman in high school from Austin, will receive her Silver Star Award this weekend when she hosts an item and awareness drive for the Mower County Humane Society. Bailey and her mother, Annette, have been volunteering at the Humane Society for about three years, ever since they were heartbroken when they lost one of their cats.

And for that time, Bailey has helped the Humane Society on her own in various ways, making name tags, brochures and displays to inform the public about pet adoption. So for her service project to earn the Girls Scouts’ Silver Award — the Girl Scouts’ second-highest overall award behind gold — Bailey will host a drive for the Humane Society beginning 10:30 a.m. at the Oak Park Mall on Saturday. The event doubles as an opportunity for younger girls to learn about volunteering and learn about Girl Scouts.

According to the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, “The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. Earning the Silver shows that you are a leader who is organized, determined, and dedicated to improving your community.”

Bailey’s mother and Mary Goetz, membership specialist for the Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys, are happy to see Bailey move toward the award after such a long time in the club. Bailey has been in Girls Scouts for nine years, since first grade.

“It is exciting to have a girl work so hard on a project; we can’t wait until she works on her gold,” said Mary Goetz,

Annette said Bailey’s projects had bumps in the road, but they helped her become more organized and taught her perseverance. With that perseverance, Bailey will soon work toward her Gold Award, Annette said.