It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!

Poway Girl Scouts are out in full force, helping residents stock up on America’s favorite confection … Girl Scout Cookies!

Offerings include two brand new varieties — crisp Rah-Rah Raisins and gluten-free Toffee-tastics with Greek yogurt-flavored chips — along with returning favorites Thin Mints, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Trefoils and Tagalongs. The Toffee-tastics are available on a limited basis through a pilot program.

Other new developments include the Digital Cookie program, a secure platform through which Girl Scouts (with parental approval) can for the first time sell cookies online to people they know. And, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Samoa cookies, customers who spend $40 receive a free box of Samoas, while supplies last.

Girl Scouts also help serve the military by inviting customers to donate cookies to Operation Thin Mint® (OTM), a local program that started in 2002. This year, the community will send the 2.5 millionth box of OTM cookies — and countless “notes to show we care” — to deployed military troops. The public is invited to help celebrate at the annual OTM Sendoff Celebration on Saturday, May 2.

Local cookie program participants include Poway sisters Katie (pictured, left) and Ellie of Girl Scout Junior Troop 8157. The girls use their cookie proceeds to fund Girl Scouting adventures and to make the world a better place. This year, Troop 8157, led by Lisa M. Suzuki-O’Connell, will use its earnings for a community service project benefiting patients of Rady Children’s Hospital, and for a horseback riding trip.

Every penny from each $5 box of cookies stays in San Diego to fund troop activities. Among those benefiting are the more than 1,600 girl and adult members in the Poway area. In addition, the Girl Scouts San Diego council’s proceeds finance events, camp, volunteer training, facilities and financial aid for nearly 40,000 local girl and adult members.

Watch for Katie, Ellie and other Girl Scouts selling cookies at booths around the neighborhood, including the Grocery Outlet, Stater Brothers, Vons and Starbucks on Poway Road; Walmart (Community Rd.) and Albertsons (Pomerado Rd.) Throughout San Diego and Imperial counties, Girl Scouts will host more than 340 cookie booths; to find one near you, or download the cookie finder app, visit www.sdgirlscouts.org/cookies.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the world’s largest girl-led business, teaching important lessons about goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

New Girl Scouts and adult volunteers are welcome to join the cookie action, as well as participate in Girl Scouting adventures year-round. For information about opportunities in the Poway area, contact Ashley Lewis, (619) 610-0817, alewis@sdgirlscouts.org. For general information, visit the Girl Scouts San Diego website, www.sdgirlscouts.org.