Community Corner

Hankering for Thin Mints? Charge It!

Girl Scouts, for the first time in the DC region, may accept credit card payments this year.

Has this happened to you? You're out on a Saturday, running errands, and you pass by a card table filled with Thin Mints and Do-Si-Dos. You pat your pockets. No cash. Oh well. You shrug your shoulders at a group of Girl Scouts, telling them sorry, you'll have cash next time.

The Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital aren't going to lose those sales any more; and those who never carry cash? They'll get their Thin Mints and Do-Si-Dos.

The iconic Girl Scout Cookie sale, which has begun in the Greater Washington region, with all proceeds supporting local Girl Scouts, will once again offer six of the top selling cookies: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Do-Si-Dos and Savannah Smiles.

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But new this year, for the first time in this region: Girl Scouts may accept credit card payments, they announced Monday. 

In an economy where fewer customers carry cash, the credit card option will make purchasing Girl Scout Cookies more convenient for customers, they said in a news release.

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Teaming up with Spark Pay by Capital One, each Girl Scout troop will elect to participate. Capital One has a long-standing relationship with Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital, sponsoring financial literacy programs and conducting workshops for girls. 

Customers who want to support Girl Scouts, but don’t want the cookies, can purchase cookies for Girl Scouts to donate as a Gift of Caring. This year, Girl Scouts have selected the Capital Area Food Bank, the USO Washington and first responders as the recipients of donated cookies.

“What girls learn in Girl Scouting are the life skills and values they will need to be successful. Where else do girls run their own business,” said Lidia Soto-Harmon, CEO Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital. “The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the country where girls learn goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics that are essential to leadership and success in life.”

Girl Scout Cookies are $4 a box with all proceeds staying in the local community to support the Girl Scout operations: troop service projects, travel, activities, educational programs, volunteer training and camp maintenance. Last year, Girl Scouts sold 4.3 million boxes with $3 million in proceeds going directly to Girl Scout troops.

Girl Scouts are selling to friends and families and door to door, but beginning Friday, Feb. 21, Girl Scout Cookie booths will pop-up in front of local supermarkets and businesses. 

To find a Girl Scout Cookie booth using your smartphone dial **gscookies or visit our website and enter your zip code: www.gscnc.org. The Girl Scout nation’s Capital cookie sale ends March 30, until it starts all over again next year.

What's your favorite Girl Scout cookie?


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