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LEICESTER, Mass. — This weekend, Leicester's Girl Scouts will launch their annual cookie sale, and the town's seven troops have set their goals on making the world a better place - one box of cookies at a time.
"When you buy Girl Scout cookies, you're buying more than just cookies; you're investing in Girl Scouts," said area cookie manager Katie McCarty.
In fact, McCarty explained, the cookie sale program helps girls develop "five key business and leadership skills that last a lifetime," including goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.
McCarty pointed out that of the 20 women currently elected to serve in the U.S. Senate, including Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), 70 percent of them were involved in Girl Scouts when they were younger.
"Scouting gave them the courage and ability to set goals, and it starts with the cookie sales," said McCarty. "It helps girls to be empowered."
This past week, the troops came together at the Leicester Senior Center for a cookie kickoff, taking part in a nationwide broadcast from cookie-maker Little Brownie Baker.
"It was like a cookie rally," said McCarty. "The things that the kids were really connected to was how they could make the world a better place by doing what they can to promote Girl Scouting. We talked about where they wanted to go, what they wanted to use their money for - like historical projects and service projects."
The girls have set a goal to sell 100 boxes each this season.
For this weekend's "Cookies Are Here" launch, troops will be out at a variety of sites around town, including:
Leicester WalMart:
Friday: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Castle Restaurant:
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Eller's On The Hill
Sunday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To find the nearest cookie sale, visit the Girls Scouts of Central and Western Mass website and click on the cookie locator.
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