Have you ordered your cookies yet?

Young ladies from throughout the Roanoke-Chowan area are in the midst of taking orders for those lip-smacking Girl Scout cookies. Every year, local members of the Girl Scout Council of the Colonial Coast take part in an effort to sell cookies in order to raise money to meet operating expenses.

There are eight varieties to choose from n Trefoils, Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, Samoas, Tagalongs, All Abouts, Caf\u00E9 Cookies and Little Brownies, each priced at $3.50 per box. New this year to the cookie lineup is the Sugar Free Little Brownie, a chewy, chocolate cookie that is diabetic friendly.

Also, beginning this year, all cookie varieties contain zero trans fat.

The local cookie program supports over 1,000 Girl Scout troops in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. The program plays an important role in the Girl Scouting’s Business and Economic Literacy initiative as it teaches the girls responsibility, money management, marketing and communication skills.

Last year, Girl Scouts from across the nation combined to sell 1,451,099 boxes. This year’s goal is 1.5 million boxes.

The majority (49 percent) of the money generated by the cookie sales remains within the respective councils to provide training and support to volunteers, communication materials, maintenance of camp facilities, camp subsidies and financial assistance for girls who otherwise would not be able to participate.

Another 20 percent is earmarked for the individual troops to use as discretionary money n scout-related trips and community projects.

The Girl Scout Council of the Colonial Coast provides its programs at an average annual cost of $292 per girl. Of that amount, approximately $198 per girl is funded through Girl Scout product sales.

For more information about the Girl Scout Council of the Colonial Coast, visit their web site at www.gsccc.org.

In the meantime, if you see a local Girl Scout, be sure to place your order for cookies. It’s a win-win situation; not only do you benefit from a tasty treat, you are also making a donation to a great cause.