Girl Scouts collect donations to provide military men and women with Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines is celebrating 12 amazing years of Operation Cookie Drop, a community service project that delivers a sweet taste of home through donated boxes of Girl Scout Cookies. Over the last 11 years, girls from across central and eastern North Carolina have helped contribute to almost 900,000 boxes of Girl Scouts cookies donated to the military.
However, Operation Cookie Drop represents more than just a sweet treat. The council-wide service project aims to show support, kindness, and hope to those serving our country.
“Girl Scout Cookies are a true reminder of our childhood. Everyone remembers selling cookies, helping your sister sell cookies, watching your mom and dad loading cookies, and helping with sales”, said Barbara Whitehead, director of NC Packs 4 Patriots, a local organization that supports military troops and families. “When you are far away from home, living in harsh conditions, even a small taste of home can help boost your morale.”
Entering its 12 year as part of the 2017 Girl Scout Cookie Program, running January 14 – March 5, Operation Cookie Drop donations can be made at local Girl Scout cookie booths throughout the program, which ends on Sunday, March 5. Additionally, with 2017 marking the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts selling cookies, the local council is hoping to collect 100,000 donated boxes of Girl Scout cookies this year alone, reaching a grand total of 1 million boxes donated since the program began in 2006.
Operation Cookie Drop not only has a profound impact on the military men and women receiving the cookies, but also on the girls who raise funds and participate in the delivery of the cookies each spring.
“My favorite part of Operation Cookie Drop is hearing the real life stories and seeing military men and woman receive the cookies. I have met so many people that have said, ‘When I was in the service I remember getting cookies because of Operation Cookie Drop,’” said Madeline Fischer, top Operation Cookie Drop seller in 2016. “Sometimes at the end of the Cookie Program I get the opportunity to go to a military base and handout cases of cookies to military men and woman. The smiles on their faces reminds me of why I do this!” Last year Fischer donated 543 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to Operation Cookie Drop.
For customers looking to donate to Operation Cookie Drop they can find a cookie booth using the online Cookie Booth Locator, which can be found at www.nccoastalpines.org. Searching by zip code and mile radius, customers can filter to find the closest cookie booth and see available dates and times of when cookies will be sold. Additionally, customers can also make a donation to Operation Cookie Drop online once they place an order through COCOdirect. To learn more about ordering Girl Scouts Cookies online, or to make an Operation Cookie Drop donation directly, contact the council at (800) 284-4475.
Local Girl Scouts will help deliver cookies to military personnel deployed from U.S. Marine installation Cherry Point in Havelock, US Army base Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro. NCPacks4Patriots and the USO of NC centers in Jacksonville and RDU International Airport will also distribute a portion of the donated Girl Scout cookies to the military personnel that they serve.
Girl Scouts will also help deliver cookies to the USO of North Carolina, Raleigh-Durham International Airport Center in the upcoming spring months. These cookies will be shared with military personnel passing through the airport either traveling to assignments or returning home to their families.
About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouts is 2.7 million strong – 2.7 million girls and adults who believe girls can change the world. It began over 100 years ago with one woman, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low, who believed in the power of every girl. Today, Girl Scouts continue her vision of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place by helping them discover their inner strengths, passions, and talents. And with programs from coast to coast and across oceans, there’s a chance for every girl to do something amazing.
About Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines
In partnership over 9,000 adult volunteers, Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines serves nearly 26,000 girl members in 41 central and eastern North Carolina counties. (Counties are: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Chatham, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pender, Person, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, and Wilson.)The council’s administrative headquarters is located in Raleigh, with additional program and service centers located in Goldsboro, Fayetteville, and Wilmington. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.nccoastalpines.org or call (800) 284-4475.
