Myra Miller
Hope Brown, a co-leader of the Girl Scout Troop 1016 in Eunice, spoke to was the Eunice Kiwanis Club meeting Thursday about the troop and the cookie sales.
Brown introduced herself and gave details about the troop and upcoming cookie sales. The Girl Scouts Troop leader is Samantha Ortego of Eunice.
The troop is fairly new to Eunice, however, the group is a large one with 45 girls.
Brown said a normal size Girl Scouts troop averages 10 to 12 girls. “Our troop is considered a mega troop,” Brown said.
The troop meets once a month in Eunice and the girls earn badges. “Girls Scouts are a great avenue for girls to learn responsibility, make good choices, become great leaders, and get involved in the community,” Brown said.
The Girl Scouts main income comes from their cookie sales. The pre-sales, which are orders taken, began Friday and runs through Jan. 21. The booth sales, where girls are on site with boxes of cookies, begins Feb. 21 and will continue for three weeks thereafter.
This year’s newest flavor is the “Lemon Ups” which sell for $4. Other cookie flavors available are Samoas, Thin Mints, Do-si-dos, Tag-a-longs, trefoils, all are $4 each. Other cookies are the Girl Scout S’Mores and Toffee Tastic, priced at $5 each.
Brown said the all-time favorite cookie of most people’s choice is the Thin Mints.
The Girl Scout Troop consists of different aged groups: Daisy, designed for girls kindergarten through first grade; The Brownies, girls second and third graders; the Juniors are fourth and fifth graders; and the Cadettes are girls sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Brown has a daughter Avery, 9, who is a Junior girl scout in the troop.
“Avery is the reason why I’m a co-leader. She wanted to join, and actually begged me to join, and she asked me to become a leader... and now, here I am,” said Brown. “The troop consists of girls from Eunice, St. Landry Parish, and we have some from Acadia Parish, some are from Iota,” Brown said.
The troop had a recent opportunity to walk in the Kiwanis Christmas parade. “They really have fun. We meet together, we come up with ideas to give back to the community, and also to donate our time,” Brown said.
Membership to Girls Scouts begins in the fall, in September. For those interested in joining, one can find more information on their Facebook website page, girlscoutstroop1016.