Girl Scouts begin annual cookie sales, share goals for travel and learning
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
Covites have joined in the annual hunt, also known as Girl Scout Cookie season, which kicked off on Jan. 20 and continues until Feb. 28.
This year, there are 11 troops selling cookies in Copperas Cove, with some selling door to door. There are also multiple booths set up each weekend throughout Copperas Cove.
One of those locations is on the porch outside the Copperas Cove Leader-Press, located at Preferred Plaza at 2210 E. Highway 190. Hours at that location are Friday evenings from 5-7 p.m., along with Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., with Scouts taking two-hour shifts.
“All troops in the Copperas Cove Service Unit take portions of their money for community service projects, camps, activities and supplies to run their troops,” said Crystal Antoine, who is a troop leader of Troops 6226 and 20108 in Copperas Cove. She also serves as the Membership Development Executive for the Waco membership area.
“Our cookie program focuses on five key skills that all girls learn during the cookie selling process, to include Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics.”
In addition to the location at Preferred Plaza, there are also booths Fridays from 4-9 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at various locations in Copperas Cove.
The locations include Lil’ Tex Restaurant, Walgreen’s, Keith Ace Hardware, Ledger Furniture, The Blinded Lime, 7-Eleven on Avenue B, 7-Eleven on North 1st Street, Exxon/7-11 on Highway 190, Discount Tire, Valvoline Oil Change on Avenue D, Bill French Jewelers in the Five Hills Shopping Center, Pet Supplies Plus, Verizon Wireless, and at T-Mobile, next to Starbucks.
“Without these businesses, the Girl Scouts in Copperas Cove would not be as successful in attaining their goals. We appreciate their willingness to let our cookies take over their storefronts,” said Antoine.
This year’s cookie lineup features a French toast inspired cookie, the Toast-ya, replacing the Thanks A Lots. Cookies are $4 per package, with the exception of the gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip, which are $5 per package. Antoine said this will be the final year the Smore’s cookie will be sold.
On Sunday afternoon, Antoine was with daughters Sophia and Isabella, who have high goals for their cookie sales this year. Sophia is in second grade and this is her third year selling cookies and she’s looking forward to accomplishing her goal with the end in sight – visiting Hawaii along with her fellow scouts. She hopes to sell 1,000 boxes of cookies.
Sophia, along with members of Troop 6226, Troop 20108 and Troop 6120 are raising money to travel to Hawaii to tour Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Culture Center. The scouts also plan to meet other Girl Scouts In Honolulu to learn about their culture.
“They are excited about exploring the island and seeing the volcanoes,” said Crystal.
“We’re trying to sell lots of cookies to get enough money so all the Girl Scouts can go to Hawaii. I would like to go swimming and I would like to see some dolphins,” said Sophia.
In addition to earning badges for selling cookies, she has earned badges for Home Scientist, Outdoor Art, Dancing, Explorer Science, Rock Climbing, Hiking, First Aid.
Other local scout troops have plans for future travel, with Troop 20122 raising money to go camping, where they will learn archery skills and do service projects that ties in with the “leave no trace policies,” which teach girls to preserve communities and respect nature, Crystal said.
Meanwhile, Troop 6943 is raising funds to travel to Washington State to explore the state of Washington and learn how salmon swim upstream to spawn. They are also visiting Boeing Aerospace Museum to learn about aircraft, and will finish their trip with a visit to the Funko museum.
“The girls are so excited to take this trip and learn about all the pop culture Washington has,” Antoine added.
Lastly, Troop 20102 is traveling to Florida to attend a workshop with Disney work youth programs.
“The girls are excited to explore the STEM options Disney has for youth. They are even more excited to travel to Batu and visit another planet in Galaxies Edge,” Antoine said.
This year, the Girl Scouts of Central Texas have put some COVID-19 guidelines in place, such as masks must be worn at in-person cookie booths or when interacting with potential customers. Girls and adults at booths should also use hand sanitizer and avoid touching their face. Customers may purchase cookies online or through a cookie seller. Contactless deliveries can be made by communicating a drop-off location and time.