They’re minty. They’re chocolaty. And they’re only available once a year.
Girl Guide cookie sales have been a fund-raising tradition for over 80 years and Marion Plante hopes you will support her Welland Sparks unit by purchasing a box of the delicious snacks this Sunday.
“The cookie sales are our only fundraiser,” she says. “The sales provide money for camps, snacks and pretty much everything.”
She says low enrolment in Sparks (only four girls registered this fall) lowered the cookie sale expectations and they have a large amount of cookies left over.
“If we have good cookie sales then we can go to camp and other outings and the unit can subsidize the cost because we have the money,” Plante says.
Plante’s Sparks unit will be selling chocolate mint Girl Guide cookies at Pupo’s Super Market on Maple Avenue in Welland from 10am-1pm on November 21.
“We have the chocolate mint cookies come out in the fall,” she says. “Vanilla and chocolate cookies come out in the spring.”
Sparks is the first level of Girl Guides and is for girls ages 5 and 6. Plante says a few more girls have joined the unit recently, but she hopes others will enrol.
“It’s the best bargain for the money,” she says. “It’s $140 for the year (financial assistance is available for families) and that’s from September until May. Where else can you pay $140 for an entire year of activity?”
Girl Guides is celebrating it’s 100th year in Canada- the first unit was started in St. Catharines in 1910. By 1912 all the provinces had formed units.
Plante says she feels it’s important for girls to have strong female role models and a girl guide program can provide this.
“It’s a non-competitive, non-judgemental type of environment,” she says. “It’s important for girls to have girl time. It’s important for women to lead girls.”
Plante has been a unit leader for 27 years and enjoys introducing young girls to Girl Guides through the Sparks program.
“Sparks helps them build their self-worth and self-esteem,” she says. “We mainly focus on sharing and what it is to be a friend. We play games, learn new songs and have our snacks. And crafts. They love their crafts!”
Sparks is the first of five branches of Girl Guides. It is followed by Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers. Often former Girl Guides continue with the program by volunteering or leading their own unit.
Sparks is held in Welland at St. David’s Church on Thorold Road each Monday. The meetings are one hour long and begin at 5:15. Those interested in registering their daughters can call 905-734-8169 for more information.
Quick Girl Guide Cookie Facts!
1927 - The first Girl Guide cookies are sold in Regina, Saskatchewan. One mother made all the cookies herself to raise money for her unit.
1953 - Classic chocolate and vanilla cookies are introduced.
1992 - Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar, a former girl guide, brings cookies into space.
1995 – Chocolate mint cookies are introduced to Canada
2003 - Production of all classic cookies are now made in a tree nut-free and peanut-free bakery.
2010 - Chocolate and vanilla cookies are now 0 g trans fat per serving
Published in Niagara This Week- Welland Edition ( November 18, 2010)
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| Welland Sparks are getting geared up to sell cookies! |
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