Donations To Community Sweeten Reward For Girl Scout Cookie Sales

ASHBURN, VA —As Girl Scout Cookie sales are underway in Vienna, local troops are saying thank you to difference-makers in the community with sweet treats.

Girl Scout Cookie sales have been a longtime tradition, helping Girl Scouts develop their entrepreneurial skills, confidence and character. Proceeds from the cookie sales stay with local councils and troops to support Girl Scouts' year-round experiences.

Girl Scout Service Unit 50-10 in Vienna, which is made up of 30 troops with K-12 scouts, will have sales until March 10. Deborah Brandt, the unit's volunteer manager, told Patch that 304 scouts sold 35,323 cookie boxes last year. Sales this year are already trending 5 percent higher.

According to Brandt, cookie purchasers have the chance to donate to the troop's designated "Hometown Hero" group.

"Part of each troop’s cookie plan involves community outreach efforts in recognizing those who work and volunteer in our neighborhoods, as well as efforts to assist programs that are supporting less fortunate groups," said Brandt.

Some of the recipients from the last year have been Inova Fairfax Hospital staff, Kaiser Urgent Care, Katherine Hanley Family Shelter, Madison High School food pantry, Marshall Road Elementary School Food Pantry (Food4Thought), Mosaic Elementary School food pantry (Blessings in a Backpack), Oakton High School food pantry, Shelter House, The Lamb Center, Thoreau Middle School food bank, Town of Vienna Department of Public Works, Vienna Community Center, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna Foodies/One Neighborhood Foundation and Vienna Police Department.

Scouts typically set personal and troop goals as part of their cookie sales plan. Brandt says the sales not only help with developing skills, but they allow scouts to take trips outside the local area, participate in new activities, participate in projects to earn High Awards and attend summer camps. One teen scout who Brandt buys cookies said in a thank you note that cookie orders help her do activities she wouldn't otherwise get to do. Along with trips, camps and activities, the scout is planning to complete the Girl Scouts' Gold Award this year.

Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital kicked off cookie sales at booths on Feb. 2. Cookie sales at booths and online will end on March 10. Residents can also order cookies through a local Girl Scout.

This season's cookie flavors are Adventurefuls, Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, Lemon-Ups and Girl Scout S'Mores, Toffee-tastic. Boxes are $5 each, except Scout S'Mores and Toffee-tastic, which are $6 each.

In Vienna, scouts find success in business settings, such as outside grocery stores, drug stores and shopping centers. To find upcoming sales, the Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital has a booth finder. Type in your ZIP code to find the closest upcoming sales.

Here are some Girl Scout Cookie booths coming up around Vienna:

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Advance Auto, 311 Maple Avenue E Suite B, Vienna, VA 22180

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Caffe Amouri, 107 Church Street NE, Vienna, VA 22180

Saturday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: CVS, 337 Maple Avenue E, Vienna, VA 22180

Saturday, Feb. 10, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Dunkin' Donuts, 314 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA 22180

Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Hair Cuttery, 144 Branch Road SE, Vienna, VA 22180

Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Lacrosse Unlimited of Vienna, 209 Maple Avenue E, Vienna, VA 22180

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Paisano's Pizza, 312 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA 22180

Saturday, Feb. 10, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Rexall, 150 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA 22180

Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Walgreens, 225 Maple Avenue E, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Advance Auto, 311 Maple Avenue E Suite B, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Caffe Amouri, 107 Church Street NE, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: CVS, 337 Maple Avenue E, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Dunkin' Donuts, 314 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Hair Cuttery, 144 Branch Road SE, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Lacrosse Unlimited of Vienna, 209 Maple Avenue E, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Paisano's Pizza, 312 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: 2421 Holt St, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Rexall, 150 Maple Avenue W, Vienna, VA 22180

Sunday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Walgreens, 225 Maple Avenue E, Vienna, VA 22180