Posted 8:11 pm Sunday, January 01, 2012
It's That Time: Girl Scout Cookie Sales Kicking Off
I hate to think about food, especially cookies, after spending weeks eating more than I should, but its Girl Scout Cookie time again.
Troop sales begin Friday and booth sales will begin Feb. 24. I always end up buying a box or two or three or more. I love the Thin Mints, the Tagalongs. the Do-Si-Dos and the ... (fill in the blank with any of the other varieties).
But getting tasty cookies is not why I buy a box or two or three. For me, it's more about supporting the mission of Girl Scouts.
Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas sent out a news release that stated its mission nicely: "Since its inception on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Ga., Girl Scouts has built girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is an integral part of Girl Scouts' Business and Economic Literacy initiative for girls in grades K through 12."
Selling cookies helps Girl Scouts develop skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.
Colleen Walker, CEO of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, says it helps turn girls into confidant leaders.
"As we approach the second century of Girl Scouting, we will continue to give every girl the opportunity to be the leader she wants to be and to be the leader the world needs her to be," she said in a prepared statement. "The Girl Scout Cookie Program does just that, supplying girls with important leadership skills that will provide a lifelong foundation for success."
The Cookie Program's Project Troop to Troup encourages people to buy boxes to donate to U.S. Armed Forces. Last year, Project Troop to Troop in Northeast Texas donated more than 177,000 packages to service men and women through Fort Hood, the USO and American Red Cross.
This year, Girl Scouts is celebrating its centennial by introducing a new cookie -- a light and lemony cookie called Savannah Smiles. I'm smiling just thinking about it.
The organization also has created a cookie locator app to help people find Girl Scout Cookie sales locations in their area. Download the cookie locator app on an iPhone or Android by dialing **GSCOOKIES on the phone.
For more information on how to support Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas by purchasing cookies, visit its website at www.texascookietime.com.
