In an effort to earn the prestigious Quest Journey Award and to promote literacy, Brownies from Troop 6030 worked diligently over the past year to construct a Little Free Library.

With the box nestled neatly on the front porch of DeMarco's Italian Restaurant, 10240 Old Route 22, Weisenberg Township, the 14 ecstatic Brownies were abuzz with anticipation for the Oct. 15 dedication ceremony.

Cloudy skies and teeming rain did nothing to dampen the girls' excitement.

Each Brownie couldn't wait to share her participation in the project.

"We get to donate books to grown-ups and kids," announced Aine Demko, a third grader from Weisenberg Elementary. "There's not a [public] library around in our town. Everybody gets a chance to read."

The library box is the first Little Free Library in Northwestern Lehigh and Mackenzie said the project was designed to help fill the void in the community where the closest public libraries are in Slatington or Kutztown.

Of the two shelves in the box, one contains books for adults. The other has children's books.

As part of the dedication ceremony, each girl brought a children's book and an adult book to fill the box for business.

Brownie Troop 6030, joined restaurant owners Marco and Amber Rodriguez, along with Tom Creighton from the office of state Rep. Gary Day, R-187th, and volunteer Troop Leader Allison Mackenzie for an official dedication of the wooden enclosure capable of holding up to 40 books.

During the ceremony, Mackenzie delivered an emotional speech expressing her gratitude for the Brownies' dedication creating the box.

"All the work and time spent this past year has come to this," Mackenzie said. "This is your legacy…you living and walking the path of the Girl Scout law…make the world a better place."

Through cookie sales and other fundraisers, the Brownies purchased the $350 box and decorated the sides with personalized paintings illustrating their love for reading.

Each girl also stamped the lid with her handprint and first name.

Participating in the ceremony were Breanna Blanar, Abby Casciano, Emily Chukoskie, Aine Demko, Madison Divers, Makela Frantz, Kelly Gallagher, Jayden Gillette, Celina Jiang, Hannah Jones, Kaela Knorr, Kylie Nagle and Dashia Toure.