Girl Scouts kick off cookie season

Brightly colored boxes and cheerful little girls mark the start of a new season: Girl Scout cookie season.

While Odessa’s Girl Scouts have started going door to door, West Texans will find scouts manning booths in front of local stores starting Saturday.

“My goal is 3,000 (boxes of cookies),” 8-year-old Girl Scout Willow Rhoudes said.

With her eyes on the prize, a trip to amusement parks in San Antonio and New Braunfels, Willow has already sold 13 cases, with 12 boxes of cookies per case.

While it seems like a daunting goal, Willow and her fellow Scouts are determined. Troop members, along with other area Girl Scouts, having been going door-to-door since Jan. 21.

But they’re looking forward to setting up their booths.

Last year the 10 troops in Odessa sold 73,000 cases of cookies, Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest Product Sales Assistant Paige Copeland said.

Revenue from the cookie sales supports various programs for the Girl Scouts themelves.

The initial orders of 2,300 cases of cookies were delivered Tuesday, Copeland said.

While there are no new cookies in Texas this year, Cassandra Rhoudes said there are going to be some new locations for Girl Scout cookie booths.

The 25 booths in Odessa will include a booth at every Sonic Drive-In restaurant for the first time, Cassandra Rhoudes said.

“We’re very excited,” Cassandra Rhoudes said.

Odessans can also donate Girl Scout cookies to be sent to soldiers overseas, Rhoudes said.

Booths in front of busy storefronts may be a prime selling location, but 7-year-old Lexi Ewing said she sells cookies all over Odessa.

Parents come with girls to supervise and ensure safety, but they’re relegated to the sidelines when it comes to sales, Rhoudes’ mother, troop leader Cassandra Rhoudes said.

 “Mostly I do all the work,” Ewing said.

@OAhealth