NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta Donates Cookies, Letters to U.S. Troops

Now, patriotic, Girl Scout Cookie lovers can donate to soldiers via Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta's Web site and help the Council to reach its record goal to send 650,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to U.S. troops overseas. Moreover, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta will send "Letters from Home" to accompany the Girl Scout Cookie shipments.

"Serving overseas and being away from your family can be hard," said Retired Col. John Durkin. "But, receiving the Girl Scout Cookies and witnessing the generosity of the public and Girl Scouts can bring a soldier a much needed taste of home."

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, spanning 34 counties throughout northwest Georgia and a portion of Polk County, Tennessee, and representing approximately 41,000 Girl Scouts, will also launch "Letters from Home" to send letters to U.S. military men and women. The hand-written letters will be included in the cookie shipments the Girl Scouts will help pack for transport by plane to the U.S. troops serving abroad.

"Being a Girl Scout is about more than selling cookies, it's about the characteristics and lessons the girls learn in completing each activity," said Morgan Coffey, Girl Scout of Greater Atlanta member and 2009 National Young Woman of Distinction award recipient. "'Project Cookies 4 Troops' is a fantastic project that not only contributes to the morale of our U.S. troops serving overseas, but also builds character and compassion in our Girl Scouts."

For every $3.50 donated, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta will send one box of Girl Scout Cookies. To learn more about Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta's "Project Cookies 4 Troops" or to make a donation, visit http://www.gsgatl.org/donate/project_cookies_4_troops.asp.

"This year, we hope by using the Web for 'Project Cookies 4 Troops,' it will be more accessible for everyone to donate and help us reach more U.S. troops with our goal to send 650,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies," said Marilyn Midyette, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. "Everyday, people are utilizing the Internet to communicate about Girl Scouts and our military troops, it's our plan to engage with these users and mobilize them to donate to 'Project Cookies 4 Troops' and to help Girl Scouts support our military men and women."

Connect with Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc. on Facebook by visiting http://www.facebook.com/pages/Girl-Scouts-of-Greater-Atlanta/46268322786. Also, follow the Council on Twitter at https://twitter.com/gsgatl and join the conversation about "Project Cookies 4 Troops" with the official campaign hashtag #cookies4troops.

About Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc.

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc. is the premiere leadership development organization for girls, serving over 41,000 girls with almost 18,000 adult members in 34 counties in the greater metropolitan Atlanta area, northwest Georgia and Polk County, TN. Our mission: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. For more information on how to join, volunteer or donate to Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc. call 800-771-4046, or visit www.gsgatl.org. For information on the national organization visit Girl Scouts of the USA's Web site at www.girlscouts.org.

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc.
Gary Key, (Office) 770-702-9194; 404-345-7093
gkey@gsgatl.org