Girl Scout Troop 526 will sell cookies at the Boothbay Region YMCA on Saturday, March 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (snow date March 18). Packages are $4, and cookie sale proceeds will help fund “First Night Bags” for area children entering foster care through Maine’s Child Welfare Services Unit district office in Rockland.

Members of the youngest Girl Scouts, Daisies, are in kindergarten and first grade. “The girls want to help other kids who might be feeling sad or scared their first night in foster care,” said Tonia Blake, who co-leads Troop 526 along with Charlinda Carlson. “They’re excited to give comfort items like stuffed animals--things they know would help them.”

Blake says troop parents and area residents have been very supportive through the initial cookie sales period, and that troop members have enjoyed selling door-to-door and to family and friends so far.

Girl Scouts of Maine credits cookie sales for helping scouts work on skills like group decision making and goal setting. The troop also learned about marketing, people skills and handling money at ‘cookie camp.’

“Booth sales make the learning fun and help the girls bond. They love to get out into the community,” Blake said.

The sale on Saturday coincides at the Y with March Madness, a series of weekend basketball tournaments hosted there. Tournament food sales support local athletics, and people who don’t want cookies for themselves, can donate a package to Meals on Wheels. Said Blake, “It can be a win, win, win, win, win. Buy lunch and cookies, and in one stop you can support Maine Girl Scouts, foster children, Meals on Wheels, area youth athletics, and take home a box of Thin Mints.”

Girl Scouts of Maine builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. GSME provides services and support to over 12,000 girl and adult members statewide, and operates service centers and shops in South Portland and Bangor.