By Cindy Ferraino.

Girl Scouts selling cookies during annual fundraising drive.

Throughout the Northeast part of the United States, especially in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, thousands of girls and their families braved the cold blast from Mother Nature last month to kick off the annual cookie sale for the Girl Scouts. The words, “It’s cookie time,” were heard from the voices of many devoted cookie lovers and followers. Yes, it is great to fill up cookie jars and stomachs with delicious Girl Scout treats, but there is a no calorie lesson baked into each cookie sold by a smiling, uniformed girl. These girls are being neighbors and friends to not only those in their community, but throughout the world.

“We teach girls the leadership and friendship skills that they take into their communities and beyond,” says Melissa Borotto Blake. Borotto Blake, the marketing and brand manager for the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey Council, adds, “The girls have unique opportunities — like the cookie program — they are exposed to that will help them live by the promise of the Girl Scout Law.”

According to the council’s website and the main website for the Girl Scouts Organization, the Girl Scout promise is “On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.” By committing time and service in helping others, Girl Scouts learn to become better friends and citizens.

“Girl scouting builds community,” Borotto Blake says. When troop leaders and New Jersey residents, Barbara Woodward and Dawn McLaughlin, and their daughters Laurel and Katie, begin a new year of scouting, these mothers are amazed at how their daughters and friends keep the Girl Scout promise of being a neighbor and sister to everyone. “It is wonderful to see that the girls still want to be involved as they get older,” Woodward explains.

Woodward and McLaughlin’s daughters are both in 7th grade where, unfortunately, Girl Scouting experiences is something the middle-schoolers often cannot share with their classmates because they are frequently teased for participating in the not-so-popular activities like camping or selling cookies. As for Woodward, she is grateful that despite it all, her daughter balances her need for acceptance by her peers, with a deep respect for what she is learning as a girlscout. “These girls are an inspiration to the younger girls because they look up to them, and want to hear about what the girls did in scouting when they were their age.”

In November 2010, 113 Girl Scouts competed in the Mission Ocean Challenge during the USS California Science Experience at Naval Surface Warfare Center, (NSWC) Corona Division. The only public event in California to coincide with the East Coast christening of USS California (SSN 781), the Navy's eighth Virginia-class submarine and the first submarine named for California, is intended to introduce students to real world applications of science, technology, engineering and math as part of NSWC Corona's continuing efforts to identify and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. (U.S. Navy photo by Greg Vojtko/Released)

As a leader, Washington Township resident Naomi Johnson, her daughter Autumn, and her troop got ready for the annual cookie program. Johnson reflected on how excited the girls are to be part of a positive community experience. “The girls are always excited and bubbly at cookie booths and say hello to everyone they meet, whether or not someone may buy cookies,” Johnson says. In addition to cookies, Johnson’s troop participates in the annual community clean-up day, a neighborly event that gathers volunteers to clean up areas within the community. Although the girls have to get down and dirty, Johnson feels this event is a world lesson in keeping our environment clean, and not just in our own backyard. “The girls realize that their choice to make a difference begins by making the right decision to throw something into the trash-it program.”For Autumn Johnson, the opportunity to be a Girl Scout is something she is proud to tell anyone. “I love Girl Scouts and it is awesome to sell cookies, like the Lemonades, Caramel Delites, Shortbreads, Thin Mints,” Autumn said. The money goes to planning activities that Autumn’s troop loves to do such as camping, swimming, horseback riding, and arts and crafts. When it comes to being neighborly, Autumn Johnson feels her troop’s helping hands reaches out to everyone. One time in particular stuck out in this 10-year-old mind: “We went to the mall and spent $200 of our cookie money proceeds on a 9-year-old boy and his family who were in need of help.”

Another leader and parent volunteer, Barbara Jo Deveney, took time out of her weekend activities to be with the girls while they sold cookies at a hometown post office. “I like being with my friends,” Amber Deveney and Anna Maria Couce said, as they stood between their friends and fellow troop members, Lyndsey and Erika. While the girls basked in the warmth of their friendship, someone approached the table to buy cookies. After finally making the tempting decision, Amber and her cohorts thanked the customer. “Thank you for supporting the Girl Scouts.” Spoken like a true Girl Scout, Amber feels that selling cookies does not just support her troop and friends, “Cookies help every Girl Scout do something for everyone, not just the people in our community.”

When the founder of the Girl Scout organization, Juliette “Daisy” Low, started the movement for girls to become “girls of courage, confidence, and character,” little did the Georgian southern belle know how many girls and women would want to take the oath to, “make the world a better place,” with a sweet sprinkling of friendship.

Sources: http://www.gscsnj.org  http://www.girlscouts.org  http://www.girlscoutcookies.org

Article reprinted with permission of USAonRace.com

Featured Photo Credit: washingtonpost.com