Girl Scouts Say ‘Thank You’ to the Troops With Cookies
Girl Scout cookies have become something of an American institution, so it seems only fitting that local troops band together each year to send the treats to those serving overseas as a reminder of home.
On Saturday morning at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, Girl Scouts from across the county spent several hours packing cookies into boxes and decorating thank you cards to be sent to soldiers overseas. An event that began in 2002 when volunteer Alison Bergman began collecting cookies with her own troop, Operation Cookie Drop is now run by the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, which includes more than 30,000 members throughout the Hudson Valley who shipped 80,000 boxes of cookies overseas this year.
“It’s so important because all of the troops who can’t be home would love a taste of home and what better taste (is there) than Girl Scout cookies,” said County Executive Rob Astorino, who attended the event.
Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson CEO Pam Anderson said Operation Cookie Drop is a way for girls to learn about the sacrifices that others are making to protect their freedom. She acknowledged that while some of the youngest participants may not understand the concept of war, they know to say thank you when they see a man or woman in a military uniform.
“It’s a way for our Girl Scouts to understand what true service means, to know that people are sacrificing for them and just to say thank you,” Anderson said.
She explained that while the cookies will be shipped out on a barge in the coming weeks, they will likely not reach the Middle East until sometime in August. At that point, the recipients send photos of themselves holding the treats as well as thank you notes for the girls.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who also attended the event, commended the scouts who spent hours in the hot sun packing boxes. She said by helping to take care of military personnel they are helping to make the world a better place.
“The Girl Scouts are really a key part of our community, a key part of our country and I am so proud to be part of this event because I can’t imagine the faces of our veterans when they open those boxes of cookies,” Lowey said.
Several servicemen and servicewomen attended the Cookie Drop, taking photos with the girls and helping out. Master Sgt. Mary Kay Messenger said it was wonderful to see future leaders participating and explained that the event helps to perpetuate the valuable lesson of appreciating service.
“It is overwhelming to see the outpouring and the veteran support,” said Messenger. “We don’t get that today. In school, certain teachers will teach it but it’s important to keep that legacy going.”
During the opening ceremony, the scouts and Astorino honored one veteran, Vito Pinto, the recently retired director of veterans affairs for the county. Pinto received a Distinguished Service Award from the county executive and a certificate of appreciation from the Girl Scouts for his service and his contributions to Operation Cookie Drop over the years.
Pinto said he was pleased to see the girls continue to participate in the cause. Anderson echoed his sentiments, noting that the event will continue as long as there are troops serving overseas.
“On the one hand it’s a shame that we keep having to send cookies to the Middle East, but while we do we want our brave men and servicewomen to know that we care,” Anderson said.
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