Iowans who like to munch on Girl Scout cookies will love a major change being implemented for the fundraiser, starting on Friday. Kristin Hunter, a spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, says you will no longer have to place an order and wait weeks for your sweet snacks to arrive.

“The very first day of the sale, Girl Scouts will have packages of cookies on hand to sell,” Hunter says. “So, when they’re going door-to-door or they have those cookie booths out there, you can get that cookie gratification immediately.” This is the 100th year for the Girl Scouts and the cookie selling process has remained much the same for decades — until now.

Hunter says, “We listened to our volunteers and our parents and our customers who simply wanted us to make this a more streamlined, simplified process.” Of all the money generated by the cookie sales, 73% stays with the local Girl Scout chapters to help send girls to camp and for other beneficial programs.

“It’s also really important for folks to understand that our girls are learning goal-setting and decision making,” Hunter says. “They’re learning how to manage money and get those people skills down as well as business ethics through this cookie program.”

The cookies sell for $3.50 a box and come in eight flavors, including: Thin Mints, Caramel DeLites and Peanut Butter Patties. No Girl Scouts came to your door? You can place an order online, starting Friday, at “www.girlscoutsiowa.org“.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City