Girl Scouts deliver more than just cookies

MARYSVILLE – Ever wonder where the money goes from all those cookies the Girl Scouts sell? Some of it goes to "Joy Boxes."

MARYSVILLE – Ever wonder where the money goes from all those cookies the Girl Scouts sell?

Some of it goes to “Joy Boxes.”

Girl Scouts who attend Liberty Elementary made the boxes a few weeks ago and delivered them to senior citizens June 9.

The two troops, for grades K-2 and third- to fifth-graders, made 24 boxes. Under the direction of Nichole Coates, the 50 youngsters brainstormed ideas on what to put into the boxes.

“It was as girl-led as possible,” Coates said. “They’re excited about it.”

They then bought the materials, using cookie money. To make the service project more personal, they hand-made clay dolls of themselves and made cards to give along with the boxes.

“They wrote messages about who they are,” Coates said.

They set up a store with the items they bought. Each Scout was able to pick out three items for their Joy Box. Items included candy, tea, soap, tissue, chapstick, crossword puzzles and more.

Allison Taylor of Catholic Community Services helped connect the Scouts to clients who would appreciate the gifts.

Kaysie Collins, 7, a first-grader at Liberty, delivered her box to Lorraine Hodge, 87, of Marysville.

“It’s to make her feel special,” Kaysie said.

Mission accomplished.

“I’m really going to enjoy this,” Hodge said.

The items in the joy boxes (cards, clay dolls of themselves, origami hearts) were planned by them. They also voted to spend some of their cookie money on the project, and chose some of the items they wanted to buy.