Cathy Cannady, leader of the Girl Scout troop in Newberry County, directs foot traffic inside the green Girl Scout hut out to the street full of waiting cars.

As girls carry cookie boxes to the running cars, already filled with more boxes of cookies, the situation may look like utter chaos to an outsider.

But this is actually a plan of complete organization.

Local Girl Scouts are once again hitting the road and sidewalks to sell their famous cookies.

Alongside Cannady is fellow Girl Scout leader Karen Butler, handing boxes to the girls and passing around some of the 5,000 boxes that have been pre-ordered in the county.

These boxes are being delivered to those who bought cookies and there will be booths set up around Newberry where people can buy cookies if they were unable to buy from a Girl Scout.

This year’s cookies are Thin Mint, Shortbread, Peanut Butter Sandwich and Peanut Butter Patties (which both peanut butter cookies are salmonella free), Caramel Delights, Thanks-a-Lots, Lemonades and Daisy-Go-Rounds, which are five packages of 100-calorie packs in one box.

“We have been asked a lot about our peanut butter cookies and whether or not they are contaminated with salmonella. Our peanut butter in the cookies doesn’t even come from the same company that is causing so much problems, and they have all been tested to make sure they are salmonella-free,” Butler said.

All profits will go toward a trip to Savannah for the Girl Scouts.

The significance of Savannah to the Girl Scouts is that it is the birthplace of Girl Scouts and its founder, Juliette Lowe.

“Every Girl Scout should be able to experience the leadership opportunities and learn the history of Girl Scouts. The opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should not be missed. The girls are really hoping to make it there this summer,” Cannady said.

THE NEWBERRY NEED

With so many girls running around, one might wonder how two leaders keep it all under control. And even though the two are an effective team, they do wish for more help.

“We never have enough volunteers. Any day we could gain 20 to 30 more girls, but because we don’t have enough leaders, we aren’t able to provide everything for the girls. We never have enough help,” Cannady said.

But the troop is still able to accomplish annually set goals.

“We work very well together. We have had to since we have been working together for nine years,” Butler jokes.

“We are always planning and making sure we coordinate badge work together, but we do plan separately from each other,” Cannady said.

The two leaders plan the troop’s year before the season starts and call each other over weekends to confirm plans.

THE NEWBERRY EXPERIENCE

The troop has still accomplished some great feats, along with a successful cookie sale this year.

The troop’s three senior scouts have been working towards their Gold Award, which is equivalent to becoming an Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts.

They have to dedicate 30 hours to earn their senior leadership badge, as well as spend 40 hours towards their career reward badge.

And that time spent is just the preliminary to earning their Gold Award. They then have to contribute 15 hours of labor to a Girl Scout Challenge.

Finally, they have to participate in completing a project, and that takes 65 hours to complete.

The three chose to restore Camp Holly Springs in Lynch’s Woods and bring the camp back into use.

The camp is located on mile marker 1 in Lynch’s Woods and used to be a Girl Scout day camp and camp-out area.

The senior girls are hoping to bring the camp back for use as an area that others may use.

For more information, or to ask about a leadership position among the Girl Scouts, e-mail Butler at kbutler0722@hotmail.com. Please put Girl Scouts in the subject line.