BEDFORD, NH — For most people, thoughts of Girl Scout Cookies turn immediately to Thin Mints – or maybe Samoas,Toffee-tastics, or another favorite flavor. But they’re more than a sweet treat – Girl Scout Cookies power the largest leadership development organization in the world for girls. The Girl Scouts who sell those cookies have a chance to learn financial skills, compete in robotics, earn trips and camping experiences, and generally make the world a better place as a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader).
Stephanie Romero of Nashua sees firsthand how those $5 boxes of cookies benefit her Girl Scouts directly as well as her community at large. She leads a mixed-level troop of Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts in Troop 12070 in Hudson, N.H. One of the annual traditions this troop participates in is to provide Christmas gifts for children in need. The 21 girls decided to take their cookie earnings and spend a good part of it to make Christmas brighter for four girls they will never even meet. They loved going shopping for everything on the girls’ wish lists, and had enough money left over to buy and fill stockings and purchase extra shoes and outfits.
“It’s making them better people,” said Romero. “They are growing and understanding that not everybody has what they have. They’re consciously trying to make the world a better place and trying to make someone else’s life better.”
These Girl Scouts wrapped and delivered four giant bags of gifts to the girls for this Christmas.
To gain the skills and enthusiasm every Girl Scout needs for a successful cookie season, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains hosted three cookie rallies, Jan. 4 in Hanover; Jan. 5 in Burlington, Vt., and Jan. 6. in Concord,. This year, we “Go for Bold!” with several interactive and larger-than-life games and activities.
Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls not only discover their inner leadership potential, but also use their earnings to power amazing experiences for themselves and their troop, including travel, outdoor adventure, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming. Many girls put their earnings toward meaningful community projects right in their own backyard, like supporting animal shelters and food banks. Whether changing laws on child marriage, improving local parks, helping high schoolers improve their SAT scores, or addressing the opioid crisis, local Girl Scouts are doing amazing things made possible by each and every cookie sale.
“Most of the things I’ve done with Girl Scouts, I’d probably never get to do out of (Girl Scouts),” said Kacilynn Hernandez-Feliciano of Newton, a Cadette Girl Scout who is the top cookie pro for Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains.
Last year, in New Hampshire and Vermont, 8,200 Girl Scout troops earned $972,000 in cookie proceeds, which in turn were used to support troop activities and often reinvested into local community Take Action projects. Over 30,000 packages of Girl Scout Cookies were also donated as part of our Gift of Caring program.
Girl Scout Cookie season officially kicked-off Dec. 31, and booth sales will follow from mid-February through March (Feb. 15 in Manchester!)
Can’t find a Girl Scout? Use the Cookie Locator at https://www.girlscoutsgwm.org/CookieFinder.
For more information on the Girl Scouts Cookie Sale, visit the GSGWM website at www.girlscoutsgwm.org or call 888-474-9686.
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
