Operation Thin Mint: Girl Scout Cookies Make a Global Impact

Operation Thin Mint (R) (OTM) sends a taste of home and a note to show we care to service men and women throughout the world.

By selling Operation Thin Mint (R) cookies, San Diego and Imperial Valley area Girl Scouts make sure their local cookie program has a global impact. Since 2002, area girls and their customers have sent nearly 1.5 million boxes of OTM cookies and countless handwritten notes to grateful military troops stationed all over the world.

The process is simple.

Girl Scouts ask their customers to buy Operation Thin Mint(R) cookies. They provide their customers with a receipt, and those cookies are earmarked for a trip overseas.

"Troops halfway around the world look forward to receiving a favorite taste of home from San Diego, said CEO Jo Dee C. Jacob, and a retired Navy captain. "I don't want to disappoint a single sailor, Marine, airman or soldier."

Look for the opportunity to buy your Operation Thin Mint(R) cookies when local Girl Scouts start selling cookies in your neighborhood Sunday, January 31, 2010. Starting Friday, February 19, you'll find Girl Scout troops at booths near malls, shopping centers and other areas in your community. More information: visit http://www.sdgirlscouts.org/.

How Troops use their cookie money

In 2009, nearly 2,000 troops from San Diego and Imperial counties earned an average of $905 by participating in the cookie program. 57 troops earned more than $2,500! Troop proceeds supported community service projects and activities and allowed girls to attend camp or travel.

Check out these success stories:

Troop 8701 of Scripps Ranch Service Unit used their cookie proceeds to provide 10 homeless children with school supplies. The girls delivered the supplies themselves, and were so moved by the challenges other kids their age face that they now make regular donations to help out in whatever small way they can.

Troop 4358 of Fallbrook rocked their first cookie season last year. They donated a portion of their proceeds to the local food pantry and participated in the Fallbrook Crop Walk to fight hunger, then spent a day in the sun at Knott's Berry Farm.

Troop 3345 of Allied Gardens Service Unit bridged to Girl Scout Cadettes on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. At first, "the girls were excited about the idea but were not sure if they could raise enough money to go," said their co-leader Michelle Archuleta. "I told them that they can do anything they put their minds to and succeed"–and they did. By the end of cookie season, they had earned enough money for all 10 girls to go to San Francisco. They toured and explored the city, walked over the Golden Gate Bridge and wrapped up their trip with a spectacular fireworks show over the bay.

After three years of planning and saving, Troop 4444 of Vista Nueva Service Unit spent two weeks trekking through Kings Canyon, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. They learned about native plant life from a Kings Canyon ranger and helped clear an invasive grass from a section of the trail. "Most of the troop had never been in a national park and we wanted to explore California," said their leader, Lana Purnell. "We had a fabulous time, hiked to Vernal Falls, saw bears in Kings Canyon and made memories that will last a lifetime."

To celebrate their Girl Scout years together as they bridged to adults, Troop 8436 of Canyon Crest Service Unit saved half of their cookie money every year since they were in first grade to take an unforgettable, week-long trip to Hawaii. Pretty good goal setting, right?

What will YOU do with your cookie proceeds? Let us know.

We celebrate the life and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. A Girl Scout's commitment to diversity is woven into everything she does, beginning with the Girl Scout Promise and Law, the foundation of all Girl Scout activities.

In 1956, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called Girl Scouts of the USA a "force for desegregation." Today, we continue to focus on building a diverse groups of girls who will become leaders who will make Dr. King proud.

Cookies NOW! = Instant Cookie Gratification

Revamped Girl Scout program delivers instant [cookie] gratification!
Cookies Now! And Thank U Berry Munch cookie debut January 31

Good news, San Diegans: No more waiting for your Thin Mints and Samoas!

When the 2010 Girl Scout Cookie Program begins on Sunday, January 31, more than 15,000 local Girl Scouts will pull “cookie mobiles” (carts and wagons filled with cases of cookies) through their neighborhoods. This new, one-step Cookies Now! system lets customers buy and enjoy their treats immediately, rather than pre-ordering and waiting for delivery.

Every penny earned through the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays in San Diego and Imperial Valley to keep Girl Scouting available and affordable for 31,000 girl and 12,800 adult members, regardless of their financial circumstances. Cookie proceeds fund troop service projects, field trips, travel and other activities, as well as the local council’s programs, camps and volunteer training.

Thank U Berry Munch – a crunchy new cookie featuring tart cranberries and white fudge chips – joins the 2010 line-up of Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, Samoas, Trefoils, Dulce de Leche and Lemon Chalet Cremes. Girl Scout Cookies are kosher, preservative-free, contain 0 grams trans fat per serving, and—for the seventh year—sell for $4 per box.

Learn more about supporting local Girl Scouts by purchasing cookies.