Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — The cookies have arrived.
Thursday marked the beginning of the annual sale of Girl Scout cookies for the East Windsor Area Girl Scouts. The youngsters sell the cookies to folks in the East Windsor, Hightstown, Roosevelt and Cranbury communities.
The cookie sale makes up a large part of the Girl Scout’s yearly budget. The program is the largest girl-led business in the country and generates more than $700 million for girls in communities across the country.
Girls will sell cookies in central and southern New Jersey until Feb. 26 for $4 per box. The boxes have a new look this year as part of the Girl Scouts’ 100th anniversary celebration.
Returning again this year are old favorites like Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, and Peanut Butter Patties along with other well-known cookies like Shortbreads, Lemonades, Thanks-A- Lots, Shout-Outs and Peanut Butter Sandwiches. During the cookie sale, Girl Scouts will hold shop at numerous booths throughout the area including at ShopRite, Walmart, CVS, Moe’s, Multiplex Cinemas at Town Center Plaza in East Windsor; the U.S. Postal Office in Hightstown; and Cranbury Pizza and Teddy’s Restaurant in Cranbury.
”Our goal is to increase our sales this year by ten percent,” said Betsy Bloemeke, East Windsor Area Girl Scout Cookie Manager. “We sold 4,096 cases which equates to 49,152 boxes of cookies last year.”
In all, 47 troops, with 450 Girl Scout members, participate in the cookie booth sales, Ms. Bloemeke explained.
”The businesses all think that what the girls are doing is wonderful,” she said.
There are also two community service programs in which cookies can be purchased then donated to soldiers or to community organizations such as a food bank or a senior center.
”Girl Scouts are budding leaders and entrepreneurs who decide how to use their cookie proceeds. Troops keep 22 percent to 32 percent of the profit,” according to a Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey press release.
I’ve been a leader for 11 years now,” said Patty Dill, who is a leader of several East Windsor Troops including Troop 70926, composed of tenth grade girls; Troop 70246, composed of eighth grade girls; and 6 Juliettes, composed of sixth grade girls. “The girls plan our trips in the beginning of the year so we know exactly how many they have to sell if they want all the trips paid for from our cookie profits.”
Ms. Dill continued, “(In) June, we are going to Washington for the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts . . . Girl Scouts is a great life experience for girls. It doesn’t have to be about patches, it’s about memories.”
Kate Murphy, co-leader of the East Windsor junior group Troop 70107, explained that the money from the cookie sales covers the costs of supplies and badges — and trips.
”We are really excited to use the money from the cookie sale this year to fund a trip to a dude ranch,” Ms. Murphy said.
”The cookie sales are really important to the Girl Scout experience. It allows the girls to learn how to deal with money. They make change and figure totals. They have learned how to budget their money. It helps some girls come out of their shells by going door to door to sell the cookies. They learn how to think about a business.”
Ms. Murphy went on to explain that, mostly, the girls learn if they really want to achieve something — they can.
To learn more, visit www.gscsnj.org.