Annual Girl Scout cookie drive begins today
It's Girl Scout Cookie time again!
Marion Girl Scouts will begin today taking cookie orders. Orders during the annual cookie drive will be taken until Jan. 26. The cookies will arrive around Feb. 18.
Shirley Groening, the Marion Neighborhood Cookie Chairman, said the scouts will set individual goals for the sales.
There are six traditional flavors: Samoas, Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils, Tagalongs, and All Abouts. There are two new flavors: Lemon Cooler, a low fat cookie, and Double Dutch, a chocolate chocolate chip cookie.
A box of cookies sells for $3 each. For each box sold, the Girl Scout troop keeps a profit of 30 cents.
The scout receives incentives as well.
"The girls receive small prizes and 'cookie dough,'" said Groening. "Cookie dough" is like points that can be used for scout activities like summer camp, scout uniforms, materials, and other scouting-related items.
For every 100 boxes sold, the scout receives $20 worth of "cookie dough."
"As an additional incentive, we take a trip each year with some of the proceeds from the cookie sales," said Groening.
Last summer, the group took a two-day trip to Hays, Minneapolis, and Lindsborg.
"We try to do something educational and fun on the trip," said Groening.
More than 40 girls participate in the cookie drive ranging from fourth grade through high school.
For those who want to contribute to the cookie drive but do not want the cookies, the scouts can distribute the donated cookies to various organizations and charities.
Cookies can be ordered up until the delivery date by calling Groening at 382-2981. Groening will contact a Girl Scout to take the order.
