Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachian donated 4,716 boxes of cookies in their southern area this past week. Through their new Cookies for a Cause program, the council divided up the cookies equally between the National Guard and Erlanger Children’s Hospital.
These cookies, purchased by donors in the community, will be enjoyed by soldiers and their families, as well as hospital staff and patients.
Cookies for a Cause is a newly rebranded program that allows customers to purchase Girl Scout Cookies to be donated, while the funds from each cookie box remains with the Girl Scout and her troop to fund enriching and educational experiences. Previously labeled Operation: Appreciation and exclusively benefiting local military organizations, GSCSA decided to launch Cookies for a Cause to expand their reach and partner with local children’s hospitals.
“Cookies for a Cause shows that the benefits of Girl Scouts goes further than one girl,” said Lynne Fugate, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians. “When a girl joins Girl Scouts or when the community gives to Girl Scouts, either directly to a girl or through philanthropic giving to our organization, they are giving back to their community at large.”
Overall, the council donated 17,119 boxes across the whole council, which serves in 46 counties throughout eastern Tennessee, southwest Virginia and northwest Georgia.