Community Corner

Girl Scout Cookie Booths Open Today

The Girls Scouts of West Central Florida have cookie booths in eight counties

If you've got a sweet tooth, this is news you'll want to hear.

Girl Scout Cookie Booths for the 2012 Girl Scout Cookie Program are officially open for business. Cookie booths can be found throughout the council’s eight-county jurisdiction of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties.

Susan Barnes, director of communications for the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, said purchasing cookies helps support .

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"Last year, Girl Scouts earned more than $1.3 million for their troops, and they decide how that money is spent," she said. "Some may plan and save for trips to London or New York City, others may plan to go to different events throughout the year, while others may plan a troop camping trip."

Barnes said the Girl Scouts teach girls skills that they can cultivate for a lifetime.

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"No matter what they choose to do, girls are benefitting from the Girl Scout program, and building courage, confidence, and character, while making the world a better place."

In addition to favorites like Thin Mints and Samoas, there's a new cookie this year in celebration of Girl Scouts 100th anniversary. Savannah Smiles, a lemon-flavored cookie dusted in powdered sugar named after the city in Georgia where Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts in 1912.

A free cookie app can be downloaded for by calling **GSCookies (**472665437) from a mobile phone, or by searching for “Cookie Locator” in the iPhone App Store or Android Market Place. Or, visit www.gswcf.org/findcookies and search using the Cookie Locator. Both the app and the Cookie Locator locate cookie booths based on zip codes. Booth location information will be available today, too.

Girl Scout Cookies are $3.50 a box, and cash and checks are accepted at Girl Scout Cookie Booths; credit cards are not accepted.

Those who want to support Girl Scouting in their communities but don’t want to enjoy the cookies themselves may opt to contribute to the Cookies from Home Program. This program is a way for Girl Scouts to give back to their communities: donations of cookies through the Cookies from Home Program are sent directly to U.S. military troops serving in combat zones overseas through a partnership with Support Our Troops. Donations to the Cookies from Home Program may be made in person through a Girl Scout at a cookie booth, through Sunday, March 18.

That's also the date that booth sales end.

For more information regarding purchasing Girl Scout Cookies and supporting Girl Scouting in this area, visit www.gswcf.org/cookies, or call (800) 881-4475, ext. 1838.


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