Emily Duchin with her Girl Scout Cookies. {Photo by Steve Duchin}
By Jill Fox
Colorful boxes piled high on tables outside of Publix, neighbors’ driveways, and on co-workers’ desks can only mean one thing – It’s Girl Scout Cookie time.
In addition to fulfilling the yearly craving, popular choices like Thin Mints and Tagalongs provide much more. Proceeds from cookie sales help fund local Girl Scout troops, with a large portion reinvested back into the community.
“Over the last few years, the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida have earned millions of dollars,” said Melinda Glasco, Marketing and PR Director for the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “I like to say there’s more to the cookies than just being delicious.”
Part of the cookie business is goal setting, Glasco explained. The girls usually set cookie goals based on what they want to earn and what community projects they are passionate about.
“They do some really incredible things,” she said.
New to the party this year are Adventurefuls – a brownie-style cookie with caramel cream in the center and a hint of sea salt.
Adventurefuls are brownie-inspired cookies with caramel flavored crème with a hint of sea salt. {Courtesy GSSEF.org}
Parkland resident Emily Duchin, 9, wants to sell 300 boxes in her first year as a Brownie. After selling 150 in just a few days, she doubled her goal. “I decided to try to sell more because it goes towards Girl Scouts and cool activities, like camping and Mall Madness,” said Duchin.
There’s another way to help support local Girl Scouts for those not interested in the extra calories. Since 2009, the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida have donated more than 639,000 boxes of cookies to soldiers as part of their Cookies for the Military campaign. This year, they are hoping to provide 75,000 boxes.
On Friday, Feb 18, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Girl Scouts are having a one-day “Give a box get a box” promotion at all South Florida Duffy’s locations, where anyone who donates a box will get a second one to take home for free.
Girl Scout Cookie Sales will continue through Feb 27. The cost is $5 per box for most varieties, and the S’mores, Toffee-tastic, and gluten-free cookies are $6 per box.
For daily hours of cookie sales at these locations, go to girlscouts.org.
Locations:
Brookside Publix
10701 Wiles Rd
Coral Springs, FL 33076
Heron Bay Walmart
6001 Coral Ridge Dr
Coral Springs, FL 33076
Sawgrass Publix
5950 Coral Ridge Dr
Coral Springs, FL 33076
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