It’s been going on for a century and continues to be a successful fund-raising avenue for Black Diamond Girl Scout troops around the world. Orders are currently being taken for Girl Scout Cookies – classic favorites and a few newer varieties. And though this year marks the 100^th anniversary of the sale, an innovative feature has been added.

 

“This year, we started online orders where the girls can manage an online ‘business,’’ said Jenny Reed, mother of Bridgeport Girl Scout Troop 544 member, Kaylee Reed. “The customer chooses if he/she wants them delivered or shipped. If delivery is chosen, a parent has to approve the order for safety reasons.”

 

As an alternative to ordering cookies, an order can be placed to donate cookies to U.S. Military members serving overseas.

Digital Cookie Sales or traditional cookie orders can be placed through any Girl Scout member. Most cookies are priced at $4 per box, but Girl Scout S’mores and Toffee-tastic cookies are priced at $5 per box. Troop proceeds are $.65 to $.75 per box, but more than $2 from each box is used across the board for the organization: Sending girls and adults to camps and training programs. A complete rundown on “how the cookie crumbles” as well as a description of each cookie variety can be read HERE.

 

Each Girl Scout can host a Web site with her goal set at 1,000 boxes. If that goal is reached, the member raises $650 for her troop’s selected project.

 

“The service depends on what the troop/girls decide,” Reed said. “Our troop picked the Humane Society and their activity. They want to raise money to stay overnight at the Pittsburgh Zoo.”

 

It’s an activity the troop has engaged in before and according to Reed, they loved the experience of camping out in the Pittsburgh Zoo Aquarium.

 

The troop is also hoping to financially help the Humane Society of Harrison County through this year’s work.

 

Pre-orders will be taken through the first week of February. After pre-order season is over, local troops will host a cookie sale booth at the Meadowbrook Mall.

 

So whether you’re a fan of the classics Trefoils, Tagalongs, Thin Mints, Samoas or Do-si-dos or prefer the newer Savannah Smiles, Girl Scout S’mores or the gluten-free Toffee-tastic, you can satisfy your sweet tooth and help local girls serve the community, state and beyond through service projects and other activities under the current organization tagline “G.I.R.L. Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk Taker, Leader,” helping members develop skills including Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills and Business Ethics.

 

Last year, Troop #5344 sold over 5,500 boxes of cookies; an average of 230 per scout member. The troop is pleased with that work and has set its goal for the same in 2017. Leaders of Troop #5344 are Cara Noonan, Ann Wilfong and Ricka Underwood. Connect-Bridgeport is unaware of other Girl Scout troops based in Bridgeport, but would like that information. You can tell us about your troop by commenting on this story.