Girl Scout cookies bring touch of home to soldiers

"Hey Mom, thanks a lot for the Girl Scout cookies," said my son, the college student. "They were great."

This wasn't the first time that I had sent him cookies. I usually send him cookies that I lovingly make by hand, but there's no call home.

Girl Scout cookies are different. They remind the son who is away about fighting with his brother over those special moments of who gets to open the Thin Mints or the Savannahs. Girl Scout cookies are an institution. They are a little bit of home. They offer a familiarity that is comfortable, welcoming and reminiscent of happy times.

Perhaps that's why Barb Snow of Geneva mobilized the troops, so to speak. She is a Scout leader who organized troops in St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia and North Aurora to get cookies for the military troops overseas. She and the Scouts pack the cookies for Operation Care Package.

"I am in charge of the summer day camp at LeRoy Oakes and I decided to have the Scouts bring in packets of oatmeal and Ramen noodles for the troops," she said. "I think that gave me the idea of collecting cookies for the troops."

Snow makes sure that each box of cookies has a personal note from a Scout along with a coloring page that has been done by the Scout.

"I wanted to have a personal touch," she said. "I promised Debbie Smothers at Operation Care Package that I would do that."

Last year the Girl Scouts shipped out 2,300 boxes of cookies. This year Snow set her goal at 3,000. She expects to surpass 10,000 cookies. Most of those are sitting on pallets in her garage.

"The soldiers and Marines really appreciate this," said Snow. "We have received hundreds of letters and e-mails thanking us. One soldier wrote that he kept the box and the coloring page with him. When the times get tough he takes it out and looks at it just to help him get through, to survive."

Snow e-mailed me many of the letters that have been sent to her. The theme is the same. The Marines and soldiers are so appreciative to have this little bit of home sent to them. Even the people who purchase the cookies are appreciative.

"This has also had an impact on the community," said Andrea Lee, a Girl Scout troop leader from St. Charles. "Yesterday my junior troop sold cookies in front of the 7-Eleven. A man stopped and thanked the girls for doing this project for the troops overseas.

The Scouts are so involved in the project that many want to do more.

"My daughter Brooke asked for council approval to put jars out to collect money to buy more cookies," said Snow. "After four days she had enough loose change to buy a case of cookies."

Snow is committed to the success of this project, but she is quick to point out that she appreciates the help from other leaders and from the Girl Scouts themselves.

"Kim Mazur of Batavia has been a great help," she said. "Each town has a leader who has stepped up in helping to get the cookies to my garage."

Great job, Girl Scouts! It's just one more example of your commitment to help others.