To the editor:
I’ve been an active Girl Scout since I’ve been in kindergarten, and currently, I am a freshman at Caribou High School. Every year I try to sell as many boxes of Girl Scout Cookies as possible to earn additional funds for our Troop so we can participate in as many Girl Scout activities throughout the year as possible. I also help earn funds for the Troop to go to Troop Camping at Camp Natarswi at the base of Mt. Katahdin. As individual Girl Scouts we can also earn a free week of camping at Camp Natarswi if we meet certain fund-raising goals throughout the year.
Girl Scout Cookies is our largest fundraiser for both the Troops and individual Girl Scouts. This year, however, was extremely difficult due to a local grocery store selling three of our biggest selling flavors of cookies for half of the price of what our Girl Scout Cookies cost. Except for the packaging designed specifically for the store’s name brand and the price per box, they were exactly the same. Because of the similarities of the store brands, it would explain why I had a hard time to sell as many boxes of cookies this year as the previous years.
What I would like people to understand is how the lower sales effect the amount of money that each Troop receives from this fundraiser. Many Troops have needed to cut back on some of their extra activities due to the lack of revenue, not to mention how Girl Scouts of Maine also receives lower revenue when our cookie sales are low because their budgets are also affected by our sales levels.
Recently, your newspaper had a great letter from Senator Susan Collins about Girl Scouts. I agreed with her letter when she said how Girl Scouts helps to empower girls to be young women, teaches important life skills for their future, and increases self esteem. For the same reasons, I believe that it is important that communities show their support for all Girl Scout Troops and by buying their cookies it could help each girl and Troop reach their goals, each girl will be able to participate in more activities, become a stronger person and teach that perseverance pays in many ways such as becoming an important female leader, such as Sen. Susan Collins.
Help our local Troops and buy more Girl Scout Cookies! It benefits everyone!
Sarah Draper
Girl Scout Troop 1092
Caribou
