Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Wyoming Brownie Troop 1355 is out in full forceóorder forms in hand. The annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale kicked off on Saturday.

Through Jan. 31 the 14 second graders will be selling Samoas, Thin Mints, All Abouts, Do-Si-Dos, Tagalongs, Trefoils andónew last yearóLemon Coolers and Double Dutch.

The girls got together last week before the sale and had a lot to say about their favorite treats.

ìI like the Samoas,î said one.

ìMy favorite is Thin Mints,î said another.

Looking to earn incentives, the girls had big goals for selling cookies.

Some boasted they would try to sell as many as 650 boxesóthough they wondered how they could reach such a feat before the sale ends Jan. 31.

The girls are used to selling cookies to benefit their troop and the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley.

This year, the sale has more meaning.

Gift of Caring

New this year, the Gift of Caring program is a community service project where the girls will sell cookies to customers who choose to then donate the cookies to a charity.

Wyoming Troop 1355 has decided to donate the cookies to the Wyoming Senior Center, the Ronald McDonald House and to troops serving overseas.

While people certainly are encouraged to buy cookies for themselves, they can help the Girl Scouts and the charities by purchasing cookies for donations.

The troops choose what organizationsósuch as food banks, senior centers or sheltersóand when possible visit the organization when they deliver the cookies.

In its first year, troop leaders Nicci Malm and Lisa Peterson said they arenít sure what kind of response to Gift of Caring they should expect.

They have set a goal of 10-20 donated boxes per girl.

Because the cookies will be donated to another organization, the boxes purchased through the Gift of Caring program are tax deductible.

Where the money goes

When folks buy Girl Scout Cookies theyíre doing more than paying for a confection.

Girl Scout Cookies sell for $3.50 a box. Of that, $2.03 goes to Girl Scout program events and resources, volunteer training, resident and day camps, Grants for Girls and maintenance and operation of five program/camping facilities.

82 cents pays for the cookies. 55 cents pays for Troop/group commission. Seven cents pays for girl incentives, one cent pays for the Senior Scholarship Fund and two cents is uncollected.

For the Wyoming Troop, the girls have been able to use the funds for activities including horseback riding, bowling, going to the Bell Museum and even winter camping.

The Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley, which serves more than 18,600 girls annually, comprises all or parts of Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Isanti, Pine, Ramsey and Washington counties in Minnesota and Burnett, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties in western Wisconsin.

The councilís 2004 operating budget was about $6.5 million. About 57 percent of that budget is funded via the Girl Scout Cookie sale.

The balance is made up by grants, fees, investment income and miscellaneous funds.

To buy cookies

Individuals who havenít seen a girl come to their door but donít want to miss out on their annual helping of charitable confection may call Troop 1355 leaders Lisa Peterson or Nicci Malm at 462-3002 or 464-6332 to place an order.

The troop also will be selling cookies at a booth sale 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at Bruceís Foods.

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