Operation Cookie Drop to send cookies to soldiers

The Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina want to sweeten things up for active military personnel through a program dubbed “Operation Cookie Drop.”

Amber Atkinson is the Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina field director. Her husband, Preston, served in Afghanistan.

“Operation Cookie Drop is a program that ships cookies to men and women serving overseas,” she said. “It’s a partnership between Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina and Blue Star Mothers. They (are) a group of moms who have children in the military and organize the shipping of cookies.”

Atkinson said the goal is to ship 9,700 cases of cookies through the program to help celebrate the Girl Scouts’ 97th birthday March 12.

There are several ways to participate. Individuals and businesses can purchase cases of cookies to donate to the program. Businesses can go a step further with corporate sponsorship levels of $500, $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500.

The Platinum Corporate Sponsor ($2,500) receives 50 cases of cookies, a customized office plaque, the company name listed on the Web site cookie section and in “The Connection” newsletter, a custom sticker for each case with a company logo and a presentation from “Support Our Troops” — the organization that ships the cookies to military personnel in the combat zones.

The $1,500 level is a Gold Corporate Sponsor. They receive 30 cases of cookies, the company name listed on the Web site and in “The Connection,” a custom sticker for each case with company logo and office plaque.

Silver Corporate sponsors at the $1,000 level receive 20 cases of cookies, the company name listed on the Web site and custom stickers for each case with company logo.

Bronze Corporate sponsors are at the $500 level. They receive 10 cases of cookies and their company names listed on the Web site.

“Proceeds from the sale go to benefit Girl Scouts in your area, while showing your support for the troops overseas,” Atkinson said. “More than 4,000 girls are participating in the cookie sale.”

Atkinson has a vested interest in the sale, and it’s not just because she’s the local field director.

“I was a Girl Scout as a young girl here in Florence,” she said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone in my council since becoming field director. I haven’t been this excited about Girl Scout cookies since I was a Brownie in 1996.

“I am extremely passionate about Operation Cookie Drop because my husband is in the Army. He is so thrilled, if not more than I am, about this program. He really does appreciate all efforts our council is making to support our service men and women and assures me that the soldiers will be very touched with our idea of a care package.”

The headquarters for Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina is 2412 Pisgah Road, Florence, 29501-7115; the telephone number is (843) 669-5174 or (800) 786-8704; and the Web site is http://girlscoutsesc.org.