Girl Scout Cookie Sales Start Friday

Girl Scouts of Central Illinois (GSCI) will start selling cookies on February 1. Customers will notice a favorable change this year.  The new direct sale format means customers will no longer have to wait for delivery.  Girls will now carry cookies with them so customers can enjoy them sooner.

In addition to stocking the pantry shelves, customers will once again have the opportunity to share these sweet treats with U.S. troops through Operation Cookie Share.  Girl Scouts of Central Illinois kicked off the Operation Cookie Share effort in 2010 and since that time over 190,000 boxes of cookies have been shipped to the women and men of our armed forces at home and abroad.

"Our  Cookie  Program offers so many exciting opportunities to our girls,"  GSCI CEO Pam Kovacevich said.  "While it's fun for them to sell cookies - they're also learning a number of key skills - both social and academic - that will help them grow as students and future business leaders.

" And through Operation Cookie Share they are giving their customers an opportunity to let military troops know that we appreciate their service by purchasing cookies for them."

Customers can either order cookies for Operation Cookie Share from their neighborhood Girl Scout or go to www.OperationCookieShare.org <http://www.operationcookieshare.org/>;   to pledge their support for the effort.

Customers can select their favorite cookies.  Cookies will be sold for $4.00 per box.