Girl Scout Cookies everywhere

Ask a Girl Scout in southeast Louisiana why she likes to sell Girl Scout cookies and the answers may vary but the enthusiasm does not.

The annual Cookie Program, which begins locally on Jan. 20, is a favorite activity of thousands of girls.

Recognized as the nation’s premier business and economic literacy initiative, the Girl Scout Cookie Program encourages girls to not only be creative, assertive, and goal and team-oriented, but participation provides valuable experiences that build girls’ self-confidence and helps them develop their own personal leadership style.

“The results from last year’s cookie sale were tremendous considering so many of our girls and customers were affected by Hurricane Katrina,” said Jackie Alexander, chief executive officer of the Girl Scout Council of Southeast Louisiana.

“Girls were really focused on doing their part in rebuilding our camps damaged from the storm.

“It’s largely because of their efforts that we’ll be able to have resident camp this summer.”

“This year’s Cookie Sale theme is STEP it Up which stands for Success Through Energetic Participation,” said Hem Sheth, the Council’s product sales manager.

“The Girl Scout organization, on both a national and local level, is targeting healthy living as an important initiative on which to focus.”

According to Sheth, the baker has added a sugar-free, a bite-sized cookie, a Little Brownie and all eight varieties of Girl Scout cookies are now “zero trans fat per serving,” giving customers new healthy alternatives.

Girl Scouts will begin taking cookie orders on Jan. 20 and cookies will be delivered beginning March 3 and will be sold at various booth locations throughout the Council until March 18.

Cookies are $3.50 per box upon delivery, and are both preservative-free and kosher.

A portion of the cookie sale proceeds goes to the local Girl Scout troops to fund their troop activities with the remainder helping the Council.

One way to support the Girl Scout cookie sale is by participating in its Gift of Caring community service project in which girls encourage customers to buy cookies for donation to a non-profit organization selected by the troop.

Girls selling Girl Scout cookies have been part of American life for 90 years.

In fact, many of today's top businesswomen credit the Girl Scout Cookie Program as their first entrepreneurial experience.

Through this yearly ritual, Girl Scouts learn to set goals and develop a plan for reaching those goals.

Under the watchful and experienced eye of Girl Scout volunteers, they gain first-hand experience in handling money, taking orders, tallying sales and arranging for deliveries.

From beginning to end, the Girl Scout Cookie Program activities are a tested and proven training ground for future business owners, corporate executives and entrepreneurs.

For more information about the Girl Scout Cookie Sale, please call the Council office at 504-733-8220 or 800-644-7571.

Orders will not be taken until Jan. 20, when the sale begins and will be fulfilled by local Girl Scout troops.