Since December 11, the iconic cookies you love to eat have been on sale but Girl Scouts in Washington and the surrounding area have until the end of next month to sell still more. The cookies will be sold door to door through February and then will be available for purchase at booth sales around the area until they are gone.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program, an integral part of Girl Scouting's Business and Economic Literacy initiative for girls ages 6-17, provides finance, marketing, and public speaking skills, along with valuable experiences that build girls' self-confidence and help them develop their own personal leadership style.

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls manage inventory, set goals, learn money management, and develop marketing skills. Essentially, the girls run their own business.

The entire troop sets goal and follows a plan

leading toward that

goal. Girl Scout

troops use funds

from the cookie

activity to fund service project or

to plan for an exciting

trip. Many successful women have credited their business skills

to the Girl Scout Cookie Program, making it the premier business and economic literacy program for girls in the United States.

"The Girl Scout Cookie Program is a valuable part of the Girl Scout experience. The skills girls gain truly help them develop into future business leaders," said Cheryl Legette, Executive Director of Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia. "It is always exciting to see girls developing skills they might not realize they are developing while it is happening."

The Girl Scout Cookie Program helps girls in unique ways. For example, this activity is a chance to build self-esteem. A shy girl can get over her fear of approaching people by working at a booth with her fellow Girl Scouts or going door to door in her neighborhood with other girls from her troop. A girl who might feel she isn't good with numbers can build her confidence by keeping track of sales and learning to make change.

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has a membership of more than 3.8 million girls and adults. Now in its 95th year, GSUSA continues to help cultivate values, social conscience, and self-esteem in young girls, while also teaching them life skills that will enable them to succeed as adults. In Girl Scouting with its special, girls-only environment, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. The Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia serves over 7,000 girls and adults in 25 counties. Girl Scouts is an agency of the United Way. To volunteer, join as a member, or make a donation, please call Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia 706-548-7297 or 770-536- 8656.