Girl Scout Gabby Lundgren sells cookies door-to-door in Brookings on Wednesday, making a stop at the home of neighbors Julie (left) and Cassie Hendricks. Door-todoor cookie sales will continue in the Brookings area through Feb. 14, and Scouts will also set up at local businesses from March 13-28 .

Girl Scouts throughout the Brookings area are out en masse trying to raise money for their troops and the Dakota Horizons Girl Scout Council.

That's right, it's cookie time! Area residents are now looking forward to their Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Thin Mints and more.

Local Girl Scouts have already started their annual door-to-door cookie sales, which continue through Feb. 14. The price per box is $4, with 50 cents of every box going directly to the troops' operating funds.

Don't worry if you miss the preordering window, says Jenna Lundgren, cookie coordinator for the Brookings Service Unit. Cookie booths will be set up at local businesses from March 13-28 .

Why do these girls work so hard, trudging down the wintery streets in pursuit of cookie sales?

"The reasons and goals are as unique as the individual Girl Scouts themselves ," Lundgren said. "But I know for a fact that the girls in Brownie Girl Scout Troop 50250 have great expectations for the funds that they earn through this year's cookie sale."

Troop 50250 is just one of several area troops now circulating cookie order forms.

The 50250 Brownies plan to use some of their funds for a camping trip with an older girl troop this summer. Some will be put towards badge work, and a portion of the funds will be used to help them earn their wings and fly to Junior Girl Scouts.

An impressive amount will again be donated to local organizations like Project Joy and the Brookings County Food Pantry, which they have contributed to for the past four years, Lundgren said. "These girls have big hearts and big dreams. Please support these young goal-getters when you are asked, 'Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?'"

Launched in 1917 in Muskogee, Okla., the Girl Scout Cookie Program has grown into a leading business and economic literacy activity run by and for girls. By giving girls the opportunity to discover their own skills, connect through teamwork and take action, the Girl Scout Cookie Program has helped make Girl Scouting the premier leadership development experience for girls.