Join 'Fill The Duffle Bag - Cookies For Soldiers' Sunday

For the second year, ninth-grade "Senior" Girl Scout Lexi Rath and her fifth-grade "Junior" Girl Scout sister Katrina will be sending a taste of home to U.S. soldiers around the world and in veteran's hospitals.

The girls, inspired by their 88-year-old grandfather who is a patriotic World War II veteran, have participated in the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois Gift of Caring - Cookies For Soldiers program for the past 6 years - sending more than 400 boxes of cookies per year.

With a goal of 800 boxes this year, the girls will once again be hosting a "Fill The Duffle Bag - Cookies For Soldiers" event from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 6, in the parking lot at Brar Dentistry, 300 Randall Road, South Elgin.

For every $4 donated, a box of Girl Scout cookies will be sent to a soldier. Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois works with Operation Care Package to include cookies in packages that are sent to our troops all over the world.

Thanks to Operation Care Package, all monies donated go directly to the purchase of cookies; there are no shipping or administrative costs. The girls will be holding duffel bags in the parking lot of Brar Dentistry to collect donations - personal and business donations are welcome. Soldiers from the recruitment center in Carpentersville will be joining the girls to lend support and thank donors.

The girls can accept cash and checks made payable to Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.

This year, credit card donations can also be made at Digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/Katrina9236 - again with 100 percent of the donation going to cookies for soldiers - no shipping costs and no credit card fees.

If someone wishes to donate but cannot attend the drive-through event or has any questions, contact Mari Kaye Rath, troop leader, at (847) 373-9782 or colmkr@aol.com.