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Girl Scouts Turn Cookies into Thank Yous for Local Heroes
Originally posted on Dakota News Now.
Girl Scout cookie season is known for iconic treats, but for many girls, the real reward comes after the sales are over.
Through the Heroes on the Horizon program, Girl Scouts encourage customers to donate boxes of cookies that are later delivered to local heroes across the community.
“Community service and giving back are really at the heart of Girl Scouts, and this is just another way that we do that through the cookie program,” said Bailey Brooker, director of communications for Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons. “I think the girls get a lot out of it and are also learning a great experience.”
At cookie booths and online, Girl Scouts ask customers if they would like to donate a box of cookies. At the end of the season, those donations are gathered and distributed to community organizations in person.
“So girls are encouraged to ask customers to make a donation of a box of cookies at their booth or online, and at the end of the season, we gather them all up and drop them off to local heroes,” Brooker said.
Those small donations can add up quickly.
“So last year we donated over 10,500 packages of cookies to local heroes and first responders throughout our community,” Brooker said.
Those cookie deliveries often make their way across the whole community.
“We give the cookies to places like firehouses, police stations, and hospitals,” said Girl Scout Junior Maria P.
For many girls involved in the program, the experience is personal, especially when the heroes they’re thanking are people close to them.
“My dad was in the army at one point,” said Girl Scout Junior Leyla B. “Thank you so much for serving in the army. It’s really special that you did that.”
Charlotte H., another Girl Scout Junior, said the program hits close to home for her family.
“It means a lot to me because my dad fought in a war and he worked very hard to try and win it,” she said.
The girls say the program also helps them recognize the role local heroes play in keeping communities safe.
“They help keep us safe, and they’re basically like heroes,” Maria P. said.
Leaders say programs like Heroes on the Horizon are designed to help Girl Scouts learn the value of service while making a difference in their communities.
“One of our missions at Girl Scouts is to make the world a better place, and a way that we do that is through community service and giving back to the community,” Brooker said. “So any way that we can implement that throughout the year and really just kind of drive it home to them that this is important for everyone around them, we try to do that.”
For the girls themselves, the chance to thank those who serve the community can be just as meaningful as selling the cookies.
“I would wanna say thank you for helping everyone stay safe,” said Girl Scout Junior Britney H.
And if you ask the girls, they still have one more message to share.
“Go buy some Girl Scout cookies!” Leyla B. said.
