14 Girl Scout troops celebrate the season
By Elise Franco
CAnfield
More than 100 local Girl Scouts celebrated Saturday the only way they know how — with cookies.
Scouts from 14 troops in Austintown and Canfield gathered Saturday at Armon Lanes in Canfield for their annual Cookie Rally and Christmas party, said Vicki Palmer, leader of Troop 80420.
“This party is our kick-off to the cookie-selling season, which begins [today,]” she said.
Troops will take pre- orders through Jan. 22, and Palmer said cookie booths and tables will begin popping up around Valentine’s Day.
Grace Rosko, 9, of Canfield, is a member of Troop 498. Grace said the cookie rally is one of her favorite events.
“We get to taste all the different cookies, and we have a lot of fun,” she said. “This year, our troop did some skits, too.”
Nicole Joseph, 11, of Canfield, a member of Troop 261, said the party is a chance for different troops to get together.
“It’s so fun because I get to be with all of my friends and bond,” she said.
Palmer said her troop also used the rally for a special cause: The members of Troop 80420 collected items to send to an Air Force unit at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
“One of our girl’s uncles is stationed there, so we collected items and signed a big banner to send over for them,” Palmer said. “It won’t arrive for Christmas, but they’ll have a nice delivery before the new year.”
Palmer said this is the troop’s third time collecting for a cause.
“They’re just coming into the mind-set that it’s not all about them,” she said. “They’ve realized they can help make a difference.”
Abby Palmer, 9, of Canfield said helping the troops overseas by having a collection is a project the whole troop gets excited about.
“It’s fun for us because we get together and have packing parties,” she said. “And it also helps out the people who are fighting.”
For more information about cookie sales, visit www.gsneo.org or call 800-THINMINTS.