Girl Scout cookie sales profits build community

Girl Scouts are taking orders for Girl Scout cookies, the famous sweet treats, through Feb. 5.This year’s theme is “What can a cookie do? More than you see.” Selling Girl Scout cookies builds character, teaches business ethics and people skills, as well as fuels dreams to make a difference in the world, according to those who volunteer with Girl Scouts.Terri Conti of Sharon serves as the cookie coordinator for Girl Scouts in six towns in the Northwest Corner. The cluster of troops is called the Region 1 Group, which is the name of the regional school district for North Canaan, Cornwall, Falls Village, Kent, Salisbury and Sharon.Cookie sales are the major fundraiser for local troops. Troops use the funds for a variety of activities, including helping others.In Kent, last year, one troop brought cat food items to Kent Cats, participated in an Earth Day town cleanup, and donated some of their cookie money to Heifer International. Another troop in Kent holds an annual community service activity in which they collect pet toys and food and donate them to the Little Guild of St. Francis Animal Shelter in Cornwall. They also made a display about the importance of neutering pets to keep the unwanted animal population down, which the Little Guild proudly displayed in their lobby. Another troop in Kent made Christmas cards for the elderly and collected items for the Little Guild. For the past three years, Girl Scouts in Sharon have been Christmas caroling at various venues around town including the Sharon Health Care Center. Last year, a Sharon troop had a dog- and cat-food drive at the Sharon Farm Market to benefit the Little Guild, raising $150 worth of food donations. Another troop in Sharon has an annual food drive and toy bingo to benefit Sharon Social Services and they donated $75 of their cookie money to the Little Guild. Another troop in Sharon keeps up a flower garden at the community center and hands out water at the Memorial Day Parade. One troop in Lakeville made blankets for children and adults for the Center for Cancer Care located in Torrington. Another troop in Lakeville made a tree for Noble Horizons to auction off and participated in “Adopt a Troop,” in which they collected items to send overseas. The Canaan Girl Scout troops have been getting together every February for the last five years to hold a cat food drive to benefit the Last Post Animal Shelter, and when the Last Post Animal Shelter had a fire, a troop in Canaan collected items for the shelter.Cookie booth sales will be held around the area during March. Go to gsofct.org to find a troop near you.

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