It’s the favorite time of year for many people as the Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania kicks off its 2025 Girl Scout Cookie season.
Girl Scouts are selling the highly sought-after cookie flavors to support the Scouts’ entrepreneurial as well as many local programs. The 2025 cookie lineup includes Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs and more. The S’mores cookie flavor will be retired at the close of the 2025 cookie season.
“Currently there are 134 girls registered in our Girl Scout Service Unit 4613 encompassing girls from many of our local Somerset County towns,” said Tessa Scherer, one of two service unit cookie chairwomen along with Heather Lottig for the Somerset Service Unit, in an email. “Girl Scout cookie sales are one of two major fundraising campaigns done by Girl Scouts each year. Funds raised go to help the girls lead community projects, participate in events such as camping, and to support ongoing troop activities.”
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As the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, the Girl Scout Cookie Program helps the Scouts acquire entrepreneurial skills, including goal setting, money management, decision-making, people skills, and business ethics, according to a press release. They earn a variety of badges and awards, including Cookie Business badges, Financial Literacy badges, Cookie Entrepreneur Family pins, and Entrepreneur badges.
Scherer happens to be the mother of two Girl Scouts, both of whom have been Super Sellers for the cookie program each year. She has been a troop leader since 2019.
“Cookie season is a busy time in our family,” Scherer said.
Cookie selling season began Jan. 7. Participants can support the local Girl Scouts by ordering from a girl you know or by visiting www.girlscoutcookies.org to find a booth near you. Beginning Feb. 28, cookie booths will be set up around the area.
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“The girls are currently taking orders within the community,” Scherer said. “Cookie booths will occur Feb. 28 through March 23. Throughout Somerset County, you can look for booths occurring at Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply, small businesses, local churches and more.”
Proceeds benefit programs
All proceeds from cookie sales stay with western Pennsylvania troops for yearly programs including camp, trips, service projects, and much more, according to a press release.
“Every package of Girl Scout Cookies sold helps unbox a future of possibilities for the next generation of female leaders,” said Patricia A. Burkart, CEO of Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, in a press release. “Girls gain invaluable life skills through the cookie program while earning proceeds that fund their adventures, community projects, and so much more.”
Those who would like to order cookies can also visit www.girlscoutcookies.org beginning Feb. 21 to have cookies shipped directly to their home by entering the ZIP code into the Girl Scout Cookie Finder at www.girlscoutcookies.org. This link can also be used to donate cookies to local community causes.
“Each troop has different goals and ideas of how cookie sales will benefit their troop. My troop of 11, Troop 46735, is full of girls with never-ending ideas,” Scherer said. “They have a bucket list of places to visit throughout Somerset County, activities and badges planned, and are planning different community projects including bringing joy to a local nursing home and firefighters as part of the cookie sale’s Troop Gift of Caring.”
Girls can join the Girl Scouts and adults can become volunteers at www.gswpa.org/join.
Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 38 years, covering school boards, borough councils, sports and new stories. Contact the Daily American reporters at news@dailyamerican.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Where Girl Scouts will be selling cookies around Somerset County