A Delicious Gesture of Appreciation

Girl Scouts of Nassau County (GSNC), in partnership with DHL Express, shipped over 85,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies® to U.S. military personnel stationed both abroad and on Long Island, as well as local first responders. This act of kindness was made possible through the generosity of community members who purchased extra Girl Scout Cookies as part of the GSNC's 19th annual Operation Cookie/Hometown Heroes initiative. Girl Scouts from across Nassau County teamed up with local officials and dedicated volunteers to help provide a warm send off a portion of the over 85,000 boxes; which were loaded into DHL’s truck to be shipped around the globe. The program serves as a heartfelt thank you to U.S. service members and vital community workers like doctors, nurses, police officers, EMTs, and firefighters, offering them a comforting reminder of home.

"Operation Cookie’s continued success each year is a heartwarming testament to our community's spirit and generosity," said Rande Bynum, CEO of GSNC. "It's incredibly moving to witness the outpouring of support for our service members and local heroes through something as simple as a package of Girl Scout Cookies. Our heartfelt thanks go out to DHL Express and to every individual who contributed to this year's Operation Cookie/Hometown Heroes campaign. Your generosity makes a world of difference."

Since its launch in 2005 in partnership with DHL, the Operation Cookie program has not only succeeded in sending over 1,100,000 packages to U.S. military personnel globally but has also instilled in the Girl Scouts the importance of giving back and the impact of kind gestures. These cookies have reached servicemen and women in diverse locations such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Poland, Germany, Japan, and numerous military bases throughout the U.S. and Europe. Local deliveries include strategic locations like the Coast Guard stations at Jones Beach, the U.S. Marines base in Garden City, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point.

The Hometown Heroes program complements these efforts by acknowledging the critical roles of local essential workers and first responders, with this year's distribution including hospitals, police departments, and a blood bank among the recipients of Girl Scout Cookies®.

“It has been inspiring to collaborate with the GSNC over the past 19 years to support Operation Cookie, which acknowledges the sacrifices of those serving our country and community," said Pawel Zagaja, Senior Director of JFK Gateway, DHL Express. “The growth of this program and the increasing number of donated cookie boxes each year is a heartwarming testament to the strong community spirit in Nassau County. We’re proud to leverage DHL’s extensive global air network to deliver a sweet taste of home to our hometown heroes and the brave U.S. servicemen and women stationed abroad."

As members of the U.S. military and local first responders receive their shipments, they will find favorites like Thin Mints, Trefoils, and Tagalongs among the selection. For more details about Operation Cookie and Hometown Heroes, please visit www.gsnc.org.