Published: March 22, 2009 11:35 pm      

Treats for troops: Scouts, veterans sending cookies to servicemen, women

Thanks to Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania and Menoher Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 155 in Geistown, some troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa will be getting special treats – Girl Scout cookies.

About 70 Scouts from Greater Johnstown and surrounding areas recently presented 700 boxes of cookies to post leaders.

The cookies represent those provided by the Scouts as well as those purchased by Post 155 and the local Marine Corps League and Vietnam Veterans of America, said Drew Rand, post commander.

Amy Horwath, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania area director, identified participating troops and their leaders as Johnstown Troop 40935, Teresa Toth; Johnstown Troop 40938, Dawn Chase; Forest Hills Troop, 40971, Terri Kirby; Forest Hills Troop 40994, Donna Straub; Davidsville Troop 40950, Jennifer Stahl; Richland Troop 40924, Cathy Lishka; and Westmont Troop 40024, Julie Sheehan.

In 2007 – the first year Post 155 sent Girl Scout cookies overseas to the troops – the shipment included 312 boxes, Horwath said. Last year, 508 boxes were shipped.

Rand is pleased that the numbers have increased each year.

“The more the better,” an enthusiastic Rand said.

“The troops say those cookies bring home that much closer” he added.

Rand spent 28 years on active and Reserve duty in the Marines.

Janet Hammett, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania regional vice president, said the Scouts provided their share of the cookies going overseas from scouting’s Cookies For A Change program, formerly the Gift of Caring.

Speaking from the Johnstown office at 612 Locust St., she said the program allows customers to buy cookies earmarked for a troop’s designated charitable organization or place. Some examples of these are the military, hospitals and shelters, Hammett said.

“Each troop decides where they want those cookies to go,” she explained.

Horwath noted that this year’s total includes cookies that were purchased by girls using their troop’s share from this year’s cookie sales.

Troops are permitted to use their shares on various scouting projects and activities, she explained.