Girl Scout cookies are here!

We just can’t resist them.  The little girls, with their Girl Scout sashes smiling sweetly, and clutching their boxes of cookies outside of the supermarket. As a former Girl Scout, I just can’t say no—not even if I bought a box the day before (you can take the boxes you can’t eat to your office, but since I don’t have an office…well, I just get to eat them).

The Little Brownie Bakers (one of the approved bakers that makes the cookies)   has a new cookie locator to help you find out where the Scouts are going to be and when and where they are selling their sweet treats.

Just type in your zip code to find out where they’ll be in the next several weeks to get your cookie fix. It’s no surprise that my favorite, Thin Mints, is still their best seller.

 The Girl Scouts are still the premiere leadership organization for women and girls in the country.  It is a $700 million program that teaches girls practical skills—such as managing money and providing good customer service—but also how to participate in the community, be kind and empathetic to others, and how to make good and ethical decisions in business.

While they are best known for their cookie sales, the Scout leaders and girls are quick to point out what programs those cookie sales enable them to support.

I found Troup #42223  standing in the bitter cold on Saturday outside building in downtown Renton. Gillian Conkling, Madelyn Brown, and Emma Cunningham were cold, but full of sunny smiles, and happy to pose for a picture.  Troop leader, Erika Conkling and a friend stood nearby cheering them on.

The enthusiastic young ladies shared with me where some of their cookie sales went last year.  Five-hunded dollars went to Haiti, some went to help an animal shelter and the rest went to Toys for Tots.

Erika, who works at Renton City Hall, and her daughter were proud to share that their troop won two awards last year in South King County.

"The awards were voted on by the service agencies who come and select gifts for their clients from the South King County Toy Fair," Erika said. "This year we prepared fleece infant hat and blanket sets."

That project earned an award for providing the most needed items, and a second award for the best overall project.

Gillian said she loves Scouts because they get to do a lot of fun things, “like camping, and the service project at Heritage Park.” 

The girls were proud that they sold the most number of cookies in the Renton South Hill area last year.

As I finished my interview, the girls said, “You ARE  going to buy cookies aren’t you?” Of course, I said. When I pulled out my twenty, I knew I wasn’t walking away with any change. Two boxes thin mints, one shortbread, one peanut butter crème, and one Thank U Berry Munch.  Which seems like an appropriate way to end this story, Girl Scouts.

Thank you, very much, for all you do.