Yes, it’s that time of year again.
Thin Mints or Samoas?
Yes, it’s that time of year again.
If you have Girl Scout parents that live on your street or work in your office, it’s time to put in your order if you haven’t already.
The 2024 Girl Scout Cookie Season is in full swing.
Sarah Edwards, chief operating officer of Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi, said the Jackson headquarters is buzzing.
“It is so exciting! We have more leaders and families in the shops getting uniforms for the girls; the phones are ringing; staff are getting supplies ready to go to the girls. There is a lot of energy buzzing with the troops,” Edwards said.
Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi oversees central and south Mississippi while north Mississippi is covered by Girl Scouts Heart of the South, headquartered in Memphis.
Cookie season — the organization’s largest fundraiser — is a massive undertaking.
“Last year the girls sold 1,030,000 boxes of cookies, and we had 417 troops participating with about 4,000 girls participating,” Edwards said.
The money raised with cookie sales always stays local.
“We use part of the proceeds to maintain staff that recruit girls and adults each year, provide program opportunities for the girls, like weekend programs and then summer camp, provide training and enrichment opportunities for adult volunteers, and maintain the two camps owned by the council and the four service centers,” Edwards said. The money is also used for council projects, troop projects, and to pay for the cookies.
Cookie season is not all about money. The main purpose of cookie sales is so girls can flex their entrepreneurial muscles and acquire important life skills.
It is so exciting! We have more leaders and families in the shops getting uniforms for the girls, the phones are ringing, staff are getting supplies ready to go to the girls.
“The girls learn to set goals, to handle money, develop people skills, decision making, and business ethics. Examples would be delivering cookies as soon as they come in, being on time at a booth sale, and thanking their customers. They also grow in self-confidence,” Edwards said.
According to Girl Scouts of the USA, nearly 700,000 Girl Scouts participate in cookie season each year.
“When people buy Girl Scout Cookies, they’re buying so much more than cookies. Every package of Girl Scout Cookies sold puts girls one step closer to making real change in their own futures, communities, and the world,” said GSUSA Chief Revenue Officer Wendy Lou.
“Girls break expectations through the power of the cookie program and open a host of possibilities beyond the box.”
Although there are no new cookie flavors this year, there are nine flavors to choose from, including a gluten free option. There are the five flavors that have been around for years — Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, Tagalongs, and Do-Si-Dos. There are also the gluten free Toffee-Tastic, S’more sandwich cookies, Lemon-ups, and Adventurefuls, which is a brownie cookie with dollop of caramel drizzled with chocolate. The Mississippi cookies are baked by Little Brownie Bakers in Kentucky.
Girl Scout cookies can be ordered online, but face-to-face encounters with parents and girls remain popular.
“Online sales are popular, but girls and parents still do a lot of face-to-face selling. That is the way most of the public wants to buy their cookies — from the girls. Usually, the only reason a person doesn’t buy a box of Girl Scout cookies is because they weren’t asked,” Edwards said.
For more information about Girl Scout Cookies
or opportunities to join a troop or volunteer, central and south Mississippi residents can visit gsgms.org or call 601-326-4475 while northern Mississippi residents can visit girlscoutshs.org or call 1-800-624-4185.
You can also order cookies by visiting www.girlscoutcookies.org to find a booth near you.
