By By Lisa Tindell – news editor
Get ready. Those pint-sized salespeople in Girl Scout uniforms will be knocking on doors soon.
The annual Girl Scout cookie sale - which raises money for the nearly century-old organization - gets under way Friday and ends March 16, said local Girl Scout leader Wende Bass.
Girl Scout cookie sales don't just raise money - they teach young women about business and economics, Scout officials said.
All varieties of Girl Scout cookies are “zero trans fat per serving,” in compliance with FDA regulations. This change was made, according to the Scouts, in accordance with wishes made by the customers who buy cookies.
Girl Scout cookie flavors are famous - and everyone seems to have a favorite.
This year the girls will ask buyers to purchase an additional box of cookies to share with others. The “Gift of Caring” packages will then be distributed to organizations, which this year will include the many servicemen who are serving overseas.
The Girl Scout cookie program offers every Girl Scout the opportunity to earn money toward a summer camp visit. A campership is a scholarship for a week's worth of camp. The girls must sell 600 boxes of cookies to earn $175 towards camp and 1,000 boxes to earn $350 towards camp.”
The variety of cookies keeps growing. This year the Girl Scouts will be selling Thin Mints, Samoas, All-Abouts, Do-Si-Dos, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Lemon Chalet Cremes and suger-free Chocolate Chip Cookies.
They will be sold door-to-door in neighborhoods and communities. Many will be sold to family members and friends. Pre-orders will be taken from Jan. 11 to Jan. 27 and be delivered from Feb. 12 through Feb. 16. The girls will set up booths in front of grocery stores and retail shops around town on March 16.
Proceeds will benefit the troop that sells them. They may wish to pay for a trip or, put the money toward resident camp fees, or they may donate it to a local charity. Each troop decides what to do with its money.