
Junior Girl Scout Troop 12865 and Cadette Girl Scout Troop 6105 from Corpus Christi School hosted the annual “Cookie Kick-Off” event for the Palisades-Malibu-Brentwood Service Unit on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Palisades Lutheran Church.

Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
“The event is designed to give Girl Scouts from our area all the information they may need for an effective cookie sales season,” said Claudia Romero Prestine, troop leader for troop 12865. “The event on Saturday was a great success!”
Prestine said that among the Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, troop leaders and parents, there were about 100 attendees at the event.
“The beauty of this program is that it provides girls with five main life-long business skills: goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics,” Prestine said. “I like to tell my girls this is their first business. They have to set goals based on what they decide to do with their profits. I encourage a troop goal and a charity goal.”
Lynn Mack-Costello, service unit manager for the Palisades-Malibu-Brentwood SU of GSGLA, said that in addition to the classic fan favorites like Thin Mints (vegan), Samoas and Tagalongs, two new flavors include Rah-Rah! Raisins and Toffee-tastic (gluten-free). There are also several nut-free options.
“For those still trying to adhere to New Year’s resolutions, they can still support Girl Scouts, by participating in the Gift of Caring program where they ‘order’ cookies from a Girl Scout, but do not take them. Gift of Caring cookie donations (tax-deductible) are delivered directly to the USO for returning servicemen and women, Operation Gratitude to military personnel overseas, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Blue Star Mothers and Goodwill of Southern California.”
With 600 Girl Scouts in the area, Palisadians can have their favorite cookies delivered. Girl Scouts will be selling cookies at booths at local stores starting on Feb. 13.
“I have loved seeing how the cookie sales can help even the shyest, quietest girls come across as confident and poised individuals,” Romero said. “I’ve seen it in my own daughters and cannot be happier.”
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