MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Troops in Korea and Iraq will soon be receiving 600 boxes of Girl Scout cookies due to the efforts of Station Girl Scouts.
The six different Girl Scout troops on Station began work on the project after a suggestion by Jennifer Hopley, a troop leader.
Every year, Station Girl Scouts receive over 500 cases of cookies containing 12 boxes each, said Toni Koating, Station Girl Scout cookie manager. "It can be challenging to sell all of the boxes. In the States, girls can sell cookies to their families, but [in Iwakuni], the girls can't do that."
"Sitting at a table for six weeks gets tiring," she added.
Hopley suggested that the girls try to sell the cookies by a new method. Nearly all of the 50 Girl Scouts on Station contacted family members and friends back in the States and asked them to buy a box or boxes to be sent to deployed troops, said Koating.
"The response was great," she added. "Five hundred-forty-five cases were sold."
Marines on Station were also helpful, Koating said. In addition to purchasing cookies, many young Marines took time to speak with the girls about their own sisters or friends who were involved in the Girl Scouts.
"I can't say thank-you enough to the Iwakuni community," said Koating.
During the course of the sales, the girls learned important lessons about money management, courtesy and teamwork, Koating said.
According to www.girlscouts.org, selling cookies is a "win-win activity." Girl Scouts practice life skills as customers get a great product and get to support girls in their own community. Additionally, all of the proceeds support Girl Scouting in the local community.
"These activities are directly related to our purpose of helping all girls realize their full potential and become strong, confident and resourceful citizens," the Web site states.
The Girl Scouts were founded in 1912 in Savanna, Ga., by Juliette Gordon Low. Low wanted to create, "something for all the girls," of the United States.
Although the original troop began with only 18 girls, the Girl Scouts were soon holding national conventions and expanding their troops to meet the diverse needs of the nation.
Today, through efforts such as the Station cookie sale, the Girl Scouts continue to teach young girls the importance of patriotism, service and teamwork.