MOORE — Earlier this month, most of us promised ourselves we would watch our calories and hit the gym on a regular basis. But now it’s time to ease up on the diet and let your sweet tooth take the ride of it’s life. It’s now officially Girl Scout cookie season.
Last week, Girl Scouts all over town loaded up box after box of the coveted Girl Scout cookies and hit the streets ready to sell. Since cookie sales end March 11, it’s the only time of year to get Trefoils, a shortbread cookie; Do-si-dos, peanut butter sandwiched between oatmeal cookies; Samoas, O-shaped cookies covered in caramel and coconut, with chocolate stripes on top; Tagalongs, a cookie topped with peanut butter and wrapped in chocolate; and Thin Mints, a thin wafer covered in chocolate and flavored with natural peppermint.
The new cookie on the block this year is Savannah Smiles, a lemon cookie with powder sugar coating. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts and the cookie is named in honor of the birthplace of Girl Scouts — Savannah, Ga.
The beginning of cookie sales has sophomore Sara Kozak geared up and ready to go. Last year, Kozak sold 2,712 boxes of Girl Scout cookies earning her the spot as top cookie seller in Norman, a title she has held for three years. And Kozak hopes to double that goal by selling 6,000 boxes of cookies this year. Kozak, now armed with her driver’s license, expects her cookie selling mission will be easier now that she won’t have to wait for her mother Sherry to drive her around town to sell those tasty treats.
Kozak said that her selling strategy is going door-to-door and she has advice for other Girl Scouts out there pounding the pavement.
“Have fun and go out there and don’t be shy,” Kozak said.
Sixth-grader Megan Hanson joined Girl Scouts when she was in the second grade.
“I love to sell cookies. I like going door-to-door and I like helping my troop,” Hanson said. “I usually catch all my family members and friends and after that I usually go door-to-door.”
Like Kozak, Hanson’s favorite cookie is the Tagalong. However, Hanson says the Thin Mint is usually the top seller.
If some of you are skeptical of this year’s newest cookie, don’t be. Savannah Smiles gets rave reviews from Hanson.
“Savannah Smiles is a lemon cookie with powdered sugar on it and I think it’s really good,” Hanson said.
Serious cookie buyers are encouraged to let their local troop know that they want to be visited and what they would like to have. Cookie fans can do that by calling the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma office and telling them the name of the closest school, even if it is a private school. And for those who don’t live near a school, a cookie lover’s interest and address can be passed on to an appropriate troop and a local Girl Scout will make a visit.
Each box of cookies is $3.50 or 2 for $7. For $42, Girl Scouts will work with Blue Star Moms and HUGS Oklahoma to make sure 12 boxes of cookies are sent to members of the military stationed overseas. Interested cookie buyers can email info@gswestok.org or call 528-GIRL (4475). Or individuals can download a cookie order form at www.gswestok.org/cookies and fax in the order to Girl Scouts at 418-7999. A local Girl Scout will be assigned to complete the order and deliver the cookies.
Girl Scouts will begin cookie booth sales on Feb. 11. These booth sales can be found through a phone application called “FindCookies!”
