Dear Editor,

Shelby County anticipates the few months of the year when their cravings for Thin Mints and Samoas are fulfilled, but to thousands of girls in the county, cookies provide an opportunity to travel, explore science and math and learn about a future career.

And to the community, the benefits extend far beyond tasty treats. But what most people don’t realize is that the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program is a $3 million business run by local girls in the Girl Scouts’ 36-county area.

Before the cookie sale program kicks off, girls and troops plan how they will achieve their pre-determined cookie goals and set out to accomplish both individual and group success.

The Cookie Sale Program in its entirety teaches girls financial responsibility, business proficiency and marketing skills and allows girls ages 5-17 to put into practice all of the program elements and life skills they learn in Girl Scouting.

By encouraging the girls to “bank” their money to save for trips or other incentives, they are taught the importance of saving and decision-making.

Not only are girls preparing for their own expenses, they are preparing to enter the work force. Girl Scouts is an integral part of work force development, and the skills girls learn in the Cookie Sale Program let them practice the needed skills.

Through programs like our Young Women’s Leadership Summit, Penny Power and CentsAbility we prepare girls to become the future CEO of a company, the future president of the United States, or the next major business tycoon.

Please support these programs in Shelby County by purchasing Girl Scout Cookies.

Visit Girlscoutsnca.org and click on Cookie Locator to find cookies near you beginning Feb. 11, and help support all of the county’s Girl Scout troops!

Hilary Perry

Pelham