Are you experiencing Girl Scout Cookie withdrawal? Can you hear that box of Thin Mints calling your name? Your wait is nearly over because on Jan. 12, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) kicks off its annual Cookie Program, taking orders and raising money to benefit Girl Scouts. GSEM is excited to offer a new cookie as part of our 2013 product lineup – Mango Crèmes! These tropical treats are vanilla and coconut sandwich cookies with a mango-flavored crème filling.

In addition to Mango Crèmes, GSEM will offer Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Shortbreads, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Lemonades and Thanks-A-Lots. Did you know that five of the top 10 cookies sold in the United States are Girl Scout Cookies? Sales of Thin Mints surpassed Oreos in 2012, making Thin Mints the No. 1 selling cookie in the country.

There will be many opportunities for you to buy cookies this year. Starting Sat., Jan. 12 until Sun., Feb. 3,
Girl Scout troops across eastern Missouri, from St. Louis to Putnam County in the north and to Ste. Genevieve County in the south, will go door-to-door taking initial orders. Troops will take additional orders until March 17. Cookies will be delivered beginning  Feb. 27, but if you didn't order cookies and still want to buy them, cookie booths will be set up in various locations near you between Feb. 27 and March 17.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led enterprise in the country, engaging girls with five skills they will use throughout their lives:

• Goal setting
• Decision making
• Money management
• People skills
• Business ethics

Many successful women leaders tell us that their first entrepreneurial experience came from selling Girl Scout Cookies.

All cookies are sold at $3.50 per package. Proceeds from the Cookie Program stay within the community to benefit local girls. Troops use the money for everything from field trips to community service projects. With these funds, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri can also deliver programs for girls, provide training for adult volunteers and maintain our three local Girl Scout camps.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the world and generates immeasurable benefits for girls and their communities. Girl Scouts have been selling cookies for more than 80 years.

Troops available for media coverage:

Troop 1357 Seniors; contact Jane Williams-Matoushek; 314.807.2027 (Lemay)

Troop 1674 Juniors; contact Christina Cole; 314.226.4543 (Oakville)

Troop 172 Juniors; contact Bobbi Pineda; 314.771.3844 (St. Louis City)

Troop 911 Juniors; contact Natalie Walker; 314.603.6945 (St. Louis City)

Troop 691 Cadettes; contact Mary Barlos; 314.605.4705 (St. Charles)

Troop 2442 Juniors; contact Allie Kleitz; 314. 344.9034 (Bridgeton)

Troop 4028 Seniors; contact Bianca Nalepa; 314. 304.0939 (Creve Coeur)

Troop 159 Juniors; contact Fran Cunningham; 314.830.3128 (Florissant)

Troop 4643 Cadettes; contact Cecelie Williams; 314.392.7472 (Dittmer)

Troop 2185 Juniors; contact Julia Polson; 314.341.0442 (Arnold)

Troop 874 Juniors; contact Sue Nash; 314.574.8754 (Festus)

Troop 3626 Cadettes; contact Rebecca Fyle; 636.825.7529 (Fenton)

Troop 1919 Juniors; contact Amy Riley; 636.379.9943 (St. Peters)

Troop 3953 Juniors; contact Jane Pack; 314.517.3490 (Wildwood)

Troop 3838 Cadettes; contact Dana Engelmann; 573.883.0365 (Ste. Genevieve)