Community Corner
Girl Scouts Have the Cure for Your Cookie Cravings
Initial round of sales wrap up this week.
Ask Sarah Elbeshbishi, a junior Girl Scout from troop 1217 in Montgomery
Village, about her favorite type of Girl Scout cookie, and you’ll hear this response:
“Thank You Berry Munch. They’re really good too. There are different kinds
of berries and they’re crisp on the edges, and really good.”
It’s that time of the year: Girl Scouts across the Washington, D.C. area are
going door-to-door selling eight cookie varieties to raise funds for their troops and
for the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital (GSCNC).
In addition to Thank You Berry Munch, troops will be selling Thin Mints, Do-
si-dos, Samoas, Tagalongs, Lemon Chalet Crèmes, Dulce de Leche and Trefoils. Girl
Scouts will collect initial cookie orders until Jan. 22 and booth sales will begin at
local shopping centers on Feb. 18.
More than 42,000 girls from the D.C. area participated in the Girl Scout
cookie program last year, selling more than 4.7 million boxes, or nearly 109 boxes
per girl. The GSCNC campaign was the largest national effort, earning $2.8 million
to support camping services, service projects, volunteer training, and financial
assistance for girls and families.
Julie Carlson, the manager of product sales for GSCNC, says the troops around
Washington hope to repeat last year’s success.
“Once you reach the level of our program, the increases [in cookie sales] are
modest year to year,” she says. “One thing we know for sure [is that] the greater
Washington metropolitan area … surely loves Girl Scouting and are extremely
generous in their support of the Girl Scout cookie program.”
For each $4 box of cookies sold, the troop keeps 69 cents and $2.04 directly
supports Girl Scout programs in the D.C. area. All proceeds from the Girl Scout
cookie program remain within the Girl Scout councils.
Elbeshbishi and her troop have a goal of selling 100 boxes per scout this year.
She says buying Girl Scout Cookies will not only help her troop achieve that goal, but
also support the Girl Scout mission.
“It’s fun,” she says. “[Girl Scouts] makes you learn more things, as in working
in a team and meeting new people.”
The program also operates as a service project. Customers can buy cookies
that will be donated to a community organization, such as a homeless shelter or
food pantry, through the “Gift of Caring” project.
“For various reasons, some customers do not want to buy cookies for
themselves. With Gift of Caring, they have a chance to give to others while
supporting Girl Scouting at the same time,” Carlson says.
Adds Elbeshbishi, “That’s what Girl Scouts are doing, helping others. Others
come before yourself.”
With revenues reaching $700 million annually, the Girl Scout cookie program
is considered one of the largest girl-led businesses in the country, helping young
women develop lifelong financial and communication skills.
