America Supports You: Girl Scouts Sell Cookies for Troops

[USMCRET6391]

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2005 – New York City-based Girl Scouts are marching across Gotham, selling boxes of their famed cookies earmarked for overseas troops.

A Girl Scout tallies the boxes of cookies sold destined for U.S. troops serving overseas Nov. 11, 2004, at the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York’s Corporate Cookie Connection. More than 2,800 boxes were sold for U.S. troops during the one-day sale. Photo courtesy of Girl Scout Council of Greater New York (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
The cookie-sales initiative, which began Nov. 11, is part of the Girl Scouts’ annual “Gift of Caring” community service project, noted Jennifer Rumbach, communications manager for the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York.

“A lot of people in New York City want to be able to give something to the troops and show their support,” Rumbach observed. And the scouts, she noted, “thought it would be a great idea to donate Girl Scout cookies to the troops.”

The Girl Scouts are working with several organizations, Rumbach said, to arrange cookie delivery to troops overseas.

“We’re hoping that most of them will go to Iraq and Kuwait,” she noted.

Rumbach estimated that between 10,000-15,000 Girl Scouts are selling cookies to New Yorkers. The scouts, she noted, have so far sold about 10,000 boxes earmarked for U.S. troops. The best-selling Girl Scout cookie, she said, is Thin Mint, followed by Samoa chocolate-cocoanut.

“Our customers have the option of buying these boxes of cookies for the troops instead of themselves,” Rumbach pointed out, while the Girl Scouts take care of shipping the cookies overseas.

New Yorkers, Rumbach reported, “are very eager” to purchase Girl Scout cookies for the troops, priced at $3.50 a box.

And, “the girls have just ‘gone wild’ over this project,” Rumbach noted. In fact, one scout canvassing potential customers in Queens, she said, has sold 300 boxes earmarked for troops.

Rumbach said the Girl Scouts had planned to sell 25,000 boxes of cookies for delivery to overseas service members.

But, “now we’re hoping to surpass that,” she remarked. The New York City Girl Scouts, Rumbach noted, sell almost a million boxes of cookies each year.

Rumbach said the New York-based Girl Scouts are patriotic and want to say “thank you” to U.S. troops. The city, she pointed out, was devastated by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers.

“I think that’s another reason that the girls feel very close to this project,” she explained, noting they have first-hand experience why U.S. troops are fighting terrorism overseas.

You don’t have to be a native New Yorker to participate in the cookie-sale initiative, Rumbach pointed out. Call (212) 645-4000, extension 263, or access the organization’s Web site for more information.

[AngelBear]

Yesterday on "The Ellen Degeneres Show" Bruce Willis was on and he helped send over 300+ cases of cookies to the troops Good job!!

My guy likes Oatmeal Creme cookies... I have just picked up 10 boxes while on sale and I better not hear that he is in need for a while...

[Navy6064]

AngelBear in the service when one person gets cookies and candy everyone dose, you did not send enough.

[AngelBear]

^LOL so true... I bought 10 boxes today and the last time I sent some (3 boxes) he ate one box on his own in one day. He is great about sharing all his stuff and I do my best to send enough to share. I love the Flat Rate boxes the post office has it has saved a LOT of money

[Batgirl]

Great initiative!

I bought 10 boxes today and the last time I sent some (3 boxes) he ate one box on his own in one day.

Don't blame him. Those oatmeal creme ones sound delicious....

[AngelBear]

Well I just filled one box with the cookies a camouflage Easter basket and camouflage Easter eggs...

cookies LOL I remember way back when during my tour in Vietnam, we were stuck on this hill blanketed in fog like for ever, and when it cleared they dropped supplies this dude received a birthday cake..he never got to taste it..

[333MP]

That is so cool. Everyone loves GS cookies.

[MACTANK]

You can never get enough of the thin mints!

[Ram0528]

mmmm samoas goood....mmmmm goood