Tis' the season for Girl Scout cookies
SUPERIOR – Customers walking in the doors of Castles Grocery Store in Superior last Saturday may have found themselves walking out with a few more sweets than they originally planned on purchasing.
That’s because one local Girl Scout Troop set up shop near the registers to sell their famous cookies that are revered around the country in the spring months. Customers could be seen lining up to buy a wide array of brightly colored boxes of cookies from thin mints and shortbreads to peanut butter sandwiches and cranberry citrus crisps. In addition to satisfying Mineral County sweet tooths, selling the delectable treats is also the primary fundraiser for Girl Scout Troops.
And according to troop leader Clara Wheeler, the Superior chapter was no exception selling over 120 boxes of cookies last Saturday. Wheeler said the chapter was new to the area.
“Right now, we are just the Girl Scouts of Superior,” Wheeler said. “We just started last February so we are brand new. Right now we have 13 girls and we are learning as we go. This was our booth sale and we will probably have a few more with possibly one in St. Regis. It’s been going well so far. We’ve been busy.”
Wheeler said the money generated would serve a variety of purposes. She also said, while they might not even be aware of it, the girls were learning valuable skills they can use later in life. Wheeler said the girls were gaining an education in responsible financial management along the way.
“The girls are learning about saving, spending and donating,” Wheeler said. “Some of the money will go toward activities we will do within the community. Some of the money will be donated based on charities they select and some of it will be spent on supplies for camping trips and other activities. We can participate in Girl Scout activities all over, even in Missoula.”
Several of the scouts in attendance reiterated some of Wheeler’s comments. Perri Jasper, Lane Bigiando and Abby Wheeler said one the reasons they like being in a Girl Scout troop and selling cookies was the opportunity to help others and contribute to the community as well as raise money for fun activities such as arts and crafts and, of course, camping trips.
“We can use the money we raise for lots of things,” Bigiando said. “We can buy crafts and supplies for camping.”
Wheeler said the reason she enjoyed being a Girl Scout was the chance to help others in the community.
“We get to help people,” Wheeler said. “We can do yard chores for people and all sorts of things.”
Girl Scout troops have been selling cookies since 1917 as a way to raise funds. According to their website, an estimated 200 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies are sold every year.
The youth organization known as the Girl Scouts of the United States of America was founded in 1912. The goal of the organization is to empower girls and teach values such as fairness, honesty, courage, character, sisterhood, citizenship and confidence through community service learning new skills and outdoor recreational activities. The organization has over 2.2 million members as of 2011.