Sweet Home Town Heroes

By Kristin Coulter

Thanks to cookie customers of Girl Scout Troop 3573’s 15 members were able to deliver cookies around Park Hill last month. It was part of the Girl Scout cookie donation “Home Town Heroes” program, which allows cookie customers to buy cookies and donate them to a troop’s charity rather than take them home. It is a calorie-free option for customers who want to support a troop but don’t want to be tempted by the delicious cookies.

In addition to the 150 boxes of cookies donated to Greater Park Hill Community’s emergency food pantry, this year the troop received enough donations to also support other charitable groups around Park Hill.

The Park Hill–based 5th and 6th grade troop members provided the staff at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church at 1920 Dahlia St., with a case of cookies. The church allows the troop to use its meeting rooms, free of charge, for troop gatherings twice a month and has done so for many years.

In addition the girls plan to take donated cookies to the Forest Street Compassionate Care Center, at 3345 Forest St. Last year the girls earned their Bronze Award, the highest Girl Scout award this age of Girl Scout can earn, by doing a project at the center. The troop members have not forgotten the experience, and wish to return. While at the center the girls made friends with residents and learned about Alzheimers’ disease and effects that medications have on patients. It turns out that Alzheimers’ medications tend to lower a patient’s blood temperature, making them cold. To make the residents more comfortable the girls made lap blankets to help them stay warm.

According to troop leaders Kristin Coulter and Laura Charlier, “the cookie season isn’t really about selling cookies. It is about decision making, goal setting, money management, people skills and business ethics. The girls learn these skills and take great pride in being able to give back to the community. They know that Girl Scout cookies make people smile and that is a great gift.”