By Natasha Bowman
The Girl Scouts in Santee launched their upcoming cookie season by holding a Cookie Kick Off at Rio Seco Elementary School on Sunday.
The event was attended by over 200 Girl Scouts ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. Thirty older Girl Scouts in grades 6-10 volunteered at the event and helped the younger girls by leading craft stations, playing games and dressing up as cookie mascots.
The cookie kick off is an event that helps girls learn the basics of what they will need to be successful during the cookie season such as product knowledge and safety.
According to the San Diego Girl Scout website, the nearly $800 million Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the country and generates immeasurable benefits for girls, their councils and communities nationwide.
Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls develop five essential skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics. Girls are encouraged to set goals for their fundraising that includes fun events such as camping and using funds to give back to the community. Santee Girl Scouts have donated to such local charities as Edgemor Hospital, Santee Santas and the Santee Food Bank.
Individual Girl Scouts will officially begin selling cookies on January 27. Troops will begin selling cookies at a variety of businesses in Santee from February 8 to March 3. Those locations include Vons, Albertsons, Food 4 Less, Walmart, Fresh N Easy and The Omelette Factory. Proceeds from the cookie sales will benefit individual troops and the San Diego Imperial Council of Girl Scouts.
