The 2017 Girl Scout cookie program is here and this year marks the celebration of 100 years of Girl Scouts selling cookies! Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois will kick off the iconic cookie program Jan. 6-8 during the first Cookie Booth Weekend of the season. At these booths, customers can purchase cookies directly from troops set up at local establishments throughout southern Illinois. From Jan. 7 to Jan. 28, Girl Scouts will take orders for cookies to be delivered in late February.
This year the Scouts are offering traditional favorites Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils and Do-Si-Dos, along with the lemon cookie Savannah Smiles introduced in 2012. A gluten free cookie, Toffee-tastic, and the brand new S’Mores cookie are also on the menu, according to spokeswoman Erin Johnson.
To get connected to a Girl Scout in your area, call (800) 345-6858 or visit http://bit.ly/CookieFinder. Customer demand for cookies following delivery has been historically high, so additional Cookie Booth Weekends will be held from late February through March.
Girls also will sell cookies online through an interactive platform called Digital Cookie. Digital Cookie combines traditional sales with technology to help girls learn more about online marketing and ecommerce. Girls are able customize their personal sales website and then use e-mail to invite friends and family to order cookies from the comfort of their home.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the country. Scouts develop skills in goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. They also earn money to support activities, to fund community service and leadership projects, to attend summer camp and to destinations near and far.
Proceeds from the program help GSSI recruit and train adult volunteers, provide financial assistance so Girl Scouting is available to all girls, maintain camp properties and develop and deliver quality program activities for girls.
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois serves 13,000 girls and 4,800 adult volunteers in more than 40 counties in southern Illinois. Girl Scouting has inspired more than 50 million girls and women since its founding in 1912.
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by various United Ways throughout the region.
