Sunday, 11 January 2015 05:27

Local Girls Begin the 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Program Girl Scout Cookie Season is Jan. 9 through March 22, 2015

SACRAMENTO, Calif. 1/9/2015– There’s more to Girl Scout Cookies than what’s in the box! It’s about the essential skills a girl gains from interacting with customers. It’s about the experience of running her own cookie business and working with others. And new to this year, Girl Scouts will be able to sell their cookies online through Digital Cookie, adding new skills to the program like online marketing and e-commerce.
 
Local Girl Scouts are currently taking cookie pre-orders! After pre-orders, Girl Scouts will sell cookies at booths outside of local storefronts Feb. 27 to March 22. Cookies are $5 per package. The Girl Scout Cookie Finder App and more information can be found at girlscoutcookies.org
 
From its earliest beginnings in 1917 to its current popularity, the Girl Scout Cookie Program has helped girls have fun, develop valuable life skills, and make their communities a better place. Cookie earnings help pay for the leadership activities and field trips Girl Scouts do all year long. Plus, the cookie program benefits more than just the girls selling them. With their earnings, Girl Scouts fund important community projects at the local level. When you buy Girl Scout cookies in your neighborhood, you are keeping your dollars in the community.
 
A Guide to the 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Program:
The 5 Skills girls learn are: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. There are financial literacy badges girls can earn at each level, kindergarten through grade 12. In terms of skill building, statistics show the Girl Scout Cookie Program works. According to a survey from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 85 percent of Girl Scout “cookie entrepreneurs” learn money management through developing budgets, taking cookie orders, and handling customers’ money.
 
Nine cookies (including one new flavor): Girl Scouts Heart of Central California purchases its cookies from ABC Bakers, one of two licensed Girl Scout cookie bakers. This year, girls will sell Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Shortbread, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lot and Cranberry Citrus Crisps. Select troops will also be selling a limited supply of the new gluten-free Trios, made with real peanut butter, chocolate chips, and whole grain oats.
 
National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend: Becoming a national holiday for Girl Scout Cookie fans, National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend will take place February 27–March 1, 2015. In honor of this nearly 100-year-old American tradition, Girl Scout members, volunteers, alumnae and supporters across the country will celebrate the world’s largest girl-led business.
 
Project Thank You: GSHCC will also continue its partnership with the American Red Cross for Project Thank You. Through Project Thank You, customers can purchase Girl Scout Cookies, which are distributed by American Red Cross to local service men and women, VA hospitals and food banks. At booth sales, customers just need to tell the girls that they’d like to purchase cookies for Project Thank You and they will put the cookies aside.
 
About Girl Scouts:
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for girls. The local council, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, stands behind its mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls Discover their interests and talents, Connect with others, and Take Action to improve the world around them. The council is headquartered in Sacramento and serves nearly 27,000 girls in 18 counties* in Central California. For more information on how to join, donate or volunteer with Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, visit girlscoutshcc.org.
*Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Mariposa, Merced, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba.
 
About ABC Bakers:
Girl Scouts Heart of Central California purchases its cookies from ABC Bakers, one of two licensed Girl Scout cookie bakers in the U.S.  ABC Bakers became the “Official Girl Scout Cookie Bakers” in 1937. ABC is part of Interbake Foods LLC, a Richmond, Virginia-based manufacturer that has been baking cookies and crackers for over 100 years. For more information on ABC Bakers and to read nutritional information on each cookie variety, visit abcsmartcookies.com.