Girl Scout cookies are back

SIKESTON - Whether you are motivated by a sweet tooth or just a desire to help out, it's time once again to order Girl Scout Cookies.

The girls will begin taking orders today following cookie rallies for Girl Scouts and their parents this week to kick off this year's sale.

Sikeston's rally was Thursday at the Sikeston Jaycee building on the rodeo grounds.

"They teach the young girls how to sell," said Reneé Trout, product sale director for the Cotton Boll Area Girl Scouts. "They teach them proper selling procedures, safety issues, how to handle the money, how to tell customers what five packages cost."

It isn't all work and no play, however.

"The rallies are a fun thing - they do a lot of fun activities depending on the theme," Trout said. The theme for this year's sales is "Mission Possible" so rallies are featuring spying, sleuthing and case-solving activities.

Cookies are $3.25 per box. "We still have the same eight varieties we had last year," Trout said. These are Trefoils, Thin Mints, Samoas, DoSiDos, Tagalongs, All Abouts, Double Dutch Chocolate Chocolate Chip and Lemon Coolers. "The two newest are the Lemon Coolers and the Double Dutch. We introduced those last year."

The Double Dutch Chocolate Chocolate Chip cookies are made with dark chocolate and milk chocolate chips while the Lemon Coolers are a reduced-fat cookie.

"The Somoa cookie is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year," Trout noted. "It's kind of an original cookie from our baker."

Customers get more than just tasty cookies for their $3.25, though. Proceeds from the Girl Scout cookie sale go toward programs such as Staying Safe, Horses and Hayrides, and Survival Weekend and to help provide camping opportunities at Camp Latonka.

"In Girl Scouting, girls grow strong as they learn to work with others and learn new things. We help girls to expand their horizons and explore new options," Council Executive Director Cindy Weber said. "We show them that there are many ways to make a difference in the world."

A portion of the proceeds goes directly to the troops. The girls choose how to spend it, deciding between options like a camping weekend, a trip to the Science Center or even buying supplies for a service project to help someone in need. "This is a local council. All the funds raised through the cookie sales stay right here," Trout said.

Those who are not able to indulge in the cookies themselves because of a diet, diabetes or whatever other reasons can still help the Girl Scouts through the new "Gift of Caring" project added this year.

"It's a service project that goes along with the cookie sales," Trout explained.

Each participating troop selects a community group such as a shelter or mission that they would like to support. Customers then have the option of purchasing cookies to be donated to that group, helping both the group receiving the cookies and Girl Scouting with one purchase.

Girls Scouts will continue to take orders until Jan. 30. If the deadline for ordering draws near and area residents have still not been contacted by a Girl Scout, they can call 888-780-8373 toll free to arrange an order.

"Cookies are delivered to the girls around President's Day, and will go out to customers the last two weeks of February," Trout said.

Those who miss placing their orders may have one more chance to get cookies before next year: "Most troops also do cookie shop sales where they set up in front of a bank or grocery store," Trout said. She said these are usually held in March after the regular delivery.

"Although our annual cookie sale is an important fund-raiser, it means much more to the girls than just selling cookies," Trout said. "The girls are involved in every aspect of the sale - from planning, to selling, to deciding how the funds raised are spent."