It's Girl Scout Cookie Time Again

Some councils have already begun selling and others will be selling shortly, but it is definitely that time of year -- Girl Scout Cookie Time!

Cookie sales is the major fund raiser for the Girl Scouts of the USA organization. Girls across the country will be selling them in 2 stages:

1. Pre-Orders: The girls will be calling Grandma and Auntie Jane. They may be knocking on your door all dressed up in uniform. Mom or dad may help out with orders at work. Choose some cookies and place your order for delivery. Your Scout will let you know when you can expect them.
   
   
2. Cookie Booths: It won't be long before you see the Girls with their leaders outside your local department store or grocery store, maybe even a video rental place, with a table full of tempting boxes. Stop by and grab some.

Your purchase helps Girl Scouts at all levels. Each troop gets a portion of what they sell. They can then use the money for anything that benifits the troop from craft supplies to field trips, even overnights. Each local council gets a portion to help them fund and develop programming for the girls in their area. And of course GSUSA gets a portion to help them keep going, too.

In the last few years, Girl Scout cookies have gone through some changes -- removing trans fats from many varieties, adding sugar free cookies. This year there are a couple new ones to try in addition to old favorites, so you're sure to fine one you'll like.

If you don't want to purchase cookies for yourself, many troops participate in the "Gift of Caring" program where they donate cookies to a local charity of their choice or send the money through to purchase cookies for "Operation Cookie Drop" which sends cookies to our military men and women overseas. The Girl Scouts still get their funds and in addition someone else benefits, so this is a great option.

One major point to remember -- Girl Scouts are not supposed to be selling cookies over the internet. Yes, if you personally know a Girl Scout she may send you an e-mail asking you to buy some cookies, but you should not see cookies being sold on Web sites. Girls aren't supposed to sell them on personal or family sites, places like My Space, or any auction sites. GSUSA takes online safety very seriously, so while it's definitely tempting to buy cookies this way if you see them -- yes, I'm an internet geek, too -- please buy your cookies personally from a Girl Scout.

And enjoy them!