Thin Mint madness sweeps Valley

1 million Girl Scout cookies on their way to hungry people

MAT-SU — Is your stomach really ready for this news? Nearly one million — that's right, one million — Girl Scout cookies are right here in the Valley, and they are on their way to your house right now.

College basketball fans call it March Madness, but Thin Mint lovers know the real reason for the madness — the oozing chocolate, the fat and the calories. It's something most people can't refuse.

Thursday, more than 56,000 boxes of Girl Scout were distributed to the 60 different troops in the Valley, and leaders couldn't be happier with the amount.

"It is the most boxes we have ever sold," said Renée Hottel, a Girl Scout leader who helped organize the cookie sales and sorting process. "The girls were really motivated this year. We are up 1,200 cases from last year."

There were 4,726 cases, with 12 boxes per case, to sort through Thursday.

Girl Scouts and their leaders sorted cookies and scheduled pick-ups from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., leading to a full day of sniffing those irresistible cookies.

There are 655 Girl Scouts in 60 different troops in the Valley.

"We are as far north as Trapper Creek and as far as Sutton the other way," Hottel said.

The money raised through the annual sale of Girl Scout cookies helps fund a number of activities, many of which would not be funded if not for the hungry public and their desire for chocolate-covered cookies.

Hottel said 35 cents of every box sold goes directly to the troop that sold the box, and an additional 4 cents goes to the Valley-wide Girl Scout organization.

"A good percentage of the money stays in the Valley. We use it to help fund our Camp Togowoods, day-camp projects and volunteer training," Hottel said. "We also use the money for special events for the girls throughout the year."