Order those Girl Scout cookies starting Sunday

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

Girl Scouts will start ringing doorbells on Sunday as they begin their annual cookie sale that continues through March 10.

Troop booth sales outside local stores will take place between Feb. 8 and March 3.

Repeat customers might notice cookie boxes have been redesigned to highlight awards members from kindergarten through high school may earn, as well as activities they can be exposed to through membership and five real-world skills they learn during the cookie sale, which is in its 96th year.

The skills are goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

San Diego Girl Scouts will be selling six varieties of $4 per box cookies: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos and Savannah Smiles. Depending on the area of the United States, some varieties are known by other names. Samoas are also known as Carmel deLites, Tagalongs as Peanut Butter Patties, Do-Si-Dos as Peanut Butter Sandwiches and Trefoils as Shortbreads.

“We appreciate San Diegans’ support of the cookie program,” said Jo Dee C. Jacob, Girl Scouts San Diego CEO. “Troops fund their service projects and activities with cookie money. And our council uses its share of the proceeds to provide programs, camps, volunteer training and the financial assistance that keeps Girl Scouting available and affordable for 31,000 local girls.”

Customers can also purchase boxes for Operation Thin Mint, which since 2002 has provided more than two million boxes of Girl Scout cookies purchased through San Diego Girl Scouts to military personnel serving overseas. Locations include Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, Japan, Korea and ships patrolling the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean, according to the local council. Purchases made for Operation Thin Mint are tax-deductible. Notes of support may also be included.