It's Girl Scout Cookie Time

Today, Jan. 7, marks the start of the 2013 Girl Scout Cookie Program throughout Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls build five essential life skills: goal setting, money management, decision making, people skills and business ethics. Empower girls to become future leaders by supporting the Girl Scout Cookie program.

Whichever your favorite Girl Scout Cookie – Thin Mints, Tagalongs, or Samoas – the wait is over! Through March 17, thousands of Girl Scouts will take orders for your favorite Girl Scout Cookie varieties, including Do-Si-Dos, Dulce de Leche, Samoas^®, Tagalongs^®, Thank You Berry Munch, Thin Mints, Trefoils and returning for a second year due to its popular 100^th anniversary debut – Savannah Smiles! Girl Scouts in west central Florida will take orders from Jan. 7-27, and thousands upon thousands of cookies will be delivered beginning Feb. 15.

New this year, Girl Scout cookie packaging has been completely redesigned to showcase more about the impact of the cookie program on girls’ skill development. For those collectors out there, this is the last year to purchase what is now referred to as “classic packaging.” The new packaging will be available this year and in years moving forward. Cookie box size and cookie amounts remain the same. 

Friday, Feb. 22 marks the start of booth sales, so keep an eye out at your favorite businesses and stores and take a box – or a dozen – home with you! Also beginning Feb. 22, visit www.gswcf.org and search for a Girl Scout Cookie Booth by zip code using the cookie booth locater system. Cookie fans with smart phones can download the free Girl Scout Cookie Locator (Kellogg) app by calling **GSCOOKIES  (**472665437) from their phones, or by searching for “Cookie Locator” in the iPhone App Store or Android Market Place. It’s easier than ever to satisfy your Girl Scout Cookie cravings!

Cookie booth sales end Sunday, March 17.

For those who want to support Girl Scouting in their communities but don’t want to enjoy the cookies themselves, GSWCF offers the Gift of Caring Program. This unique program is a way for Girl Scouts to give back to their communities: donations of cookies through the Gift of Caring Program will be sent directly to our military troops serving in combat zones overseas. Donations to the Gift of Caring Program may be made in person through a Girl Scout at any time during the Cookie Program through March 17, or corporations and businesses who wish to purchase at a corporate level may inquire about Gift of Caring sponsorships.

Girl Scout Cookies are not only an icon of American culture, but also support the largest girl-led business in the world. With their Girl Scout Cookie Program proceeds, girls fund important community projects at the local level.

For more information regarding purchasing Girl Scout Cookies and supporting Girl Scouting in your area, visit www.gswcf.org/cookies or call (800) 881-4475, ext. 1778.