2016 Girl Scout Cookie Program to begin this weekend
<span>The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) will kick off the 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Program on Saturday during the first Cookie Booth weekend of the season.</span>
<span>At these Cookie Booths, customers can purchase cookies directly from girls at various locations throughout Southern Illinois.</span>
<span>"I love doing cookie sales," said Chester Girl Scouts cookie program manager Tiffany Bryant. "I think it's a time the girls are working together, they all get excited about it and they like the rewards they get from selling cookies."</span>
<span>In Chester, Girl Scout troops 8941, 8231 and 8236 will be selling cookies at Rozier's Country Market (800 Chester Center) on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.</span>
<span>"Our older troop here in Chester is starting to save money for a trip to Savannah, Ga., to the birthplace of the founder of Girls Scouts (Juliette Gordon)," Bryant said. "They usually go at some point in high school, so the troops who are saving now will be going in the next two to three years and they will be going in different grades."</span>
<span>Traditional cookie orders take place from Jan. 9 through Jan. 30, with Girl Scouts taking orders for the treats that will be delivered in late February.</span>
<span>Customer demand for Girl Scout Cookies following delivery has been high historically, so additional Cookie Booth weekends will be held Feb. 26 through March 13.</span>
<span>"It's important that the community supports them," Bryant said. "It's their biggest fundraiser, so it's important to have the support from the community."</span>
<span>In addition to cookie booths and traditional orders, girls will also be able to sell Girl Scout cookies online through a program called Digital Cookie.</span>
<span>"Digital Cookie is an exciting element of the Girl Scout Cookie Program that creates a safe, interactive space for girls to sell cookies," said Kelly Jansen, director of Product Sales, in a news release. "Digital Cookie is a revolutionary enhancement of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, coupling traditional sales activities with online and mobile sales experiences that teach girls online marketing and ecommerce."</span>
<span>Jansen noted that the scouts will market their online cookie business by inviting customers, via email, to visit their personalized cookie websites.</span>
<span>"This option is particularly great for girls who have out-of-town family members and friends," Jansen said.</span>
<span>To find Girl Scout Cookie Booths in your area, use the Girl Scout Cookie app or Little Brownie Baker's Cookie locator at http://cookielocator.littlebrownie.com/.</span>
<span>Orders can also be made locally by contacting Sherri Rahn (618-521-2542) or Tiffany Bryant (618-795-2117).</span>