Ask Heather Campbell, a senior Girl Scout from troop 849 in Alexandria, VA, about her favorite type of Girl Scout Cookie, and you’ll hear this response:
“Thin Mints, because you can freeze them, and they go good on ice cream.”
Yes, it’s that time of the year: Girl Scouts across the Washington D.C. area are going door-to-door selling Thin Mints, Samoas, and six additional cookie varieties to raise funds for their troops and for the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital (GSCNC).
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This year, troops will be selling eight types of cookies: Thin Mints; Do-si-dos; Samoas; Tagalongs; Lemon Chalet Crèmes; Dulce de Leche; Trefoils; and Thank You Berry Munch. Girl Scouts will collect initial cookie orders until January 22 and booth sales will begin at local shopping centers on February 18.
Over 42,000 girls from the Washington D.C. area participated in the Girl Scout Cookie Program last year, selling over 4.7 million boxes of cookies overall, or approximately 108.7 boxes per girl. The GSCNC campaign was the largest national effort, earning $2.8 million to support full camping services, service projects, training for volunteers, and financial assistance for girls and families.
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Julie Carlson, the manager of product sales for GSCNC, says that the troops in Washington D.C. hope to repeat last year’s success.
“Once you reach the level of our program, the increases [in cookie sales] are modest year to year,” she says. “One thing we know for sure [is that] the greater Washington metropolitan area…surely love Girl Scouting and are extremely generous in their support of the Girl Scout Cookie Program.”
For each $4.00 box of cookies sold, $0.69 is retained by the troop and $2.04 directly supports Girl Scout programs in the Washington D.C. area. All proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie program remain within the Girl Scout councils.
“[Buying Girl Scout cookies] help the Girl Scouts give back to the community,” Campbell says.
The program also operates as a service project for Girl Scout troops; customers can purchase cookies that will be donated to a community organization, such as a homeless shelter or food pantry, through the “Gift of Caring” project.
Carlson says, “For various reasons, some customers do not want to buy cookies for themselves. With Gift of Caring, they have a chance to give to others while supporting Girl Scouting at the same time.”
For Troop 849, donations to the Gift of Caring will go to the Make-A-Wish foundation.
“It’s for a good cause,” Campbell says. “It’s for the kids who have cancer.”
Campbell hopes to sell 900 boxes of cookies this year to fund a Girl Scout Destination trip to California. In order to reach her goal, Campbell plans to go door-to-door in her neighborhood and visit teachers at her former elementary school to sell cookies.
With revenues reaching $700 million annually, the Girl Scout Cookie Program is considered one of the largest girl-led businesses in the country, helping young women develop lifelong financial and communication skills.
Carlson says, “Personally, I have seen girls blossom and truly grow in courage, confidence, and character which is our mission. Plus, they have an incredible amount of fun!”
