A Girl Scout Community Service Project
Troop/Group Level Patch Program

Everyone knows that Girl Scouts strongly believes in supporting the community. The Gift of Caring Program is again being promoted across our area.

 What is the Gift of Caring Project?

The Gift of Caring Project is an optional activity developed for Girl Scouts as a Service Project that is done in conjunction with the Cookie Sale Program. Each troop chooses whether or not to participate. The Gift of Caring Project is an opportunity for customers to purchase Girl Scout cookies from girls and troops, which will then be, donated to various organizations in the community; homeless shelters, churches, retirement homes, fire departments, etc.

 It’s Easy to Participate

• Before the Cookie Sale Program begins, the Troop makes the commitment to participate in the Gift of Caring project.
• Each Troop decides which charitable organization(s) they would like to “adopt” to receive the Girl Scout cookies donated by their customers (Nursing Homes, Senior Citizen Centers, Women & Children’s Shelters, etc.) See the Council web site for additional information.
• An adult should contact the organization to verify that they will accept the cookies and give them an approximate date when the cookies will be delivered. Troops usually deliver in November or early December.
• Attach a “Gift of Caring” card to the front of the Girl Order Card to show the name of the organization(s) the Troop has selected for the donation.
• Each girl asks customers if they would like to purchase an additional package(s) of cookies as a gift for that Troop’s chosen charity. The girl explains this as a
• Girl Scout Service Project and shows the “Gift of Caring” card.
• Each customer may write the number of packages they wish to purchase for donation by entering a number in the blank column next to their own order.
• The Troop Cookie Manager will decide which varieties of cookies to order to fill the Gift of Caring total (use the extra cookies from the cases for this.)
• The Troop will visit chosen group/organizations and deliver the Gift of Caring Girl Scout Cookies.

During Troop training, when the girls role-play how to ask customers for their cookie order include an explanation of the Gift of Caring program and how to ask the customer to participate.

 Wear the Gift of Caring patch with pride!

Patches available in Council Shop!

Cost: 50¢ each

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana