**Girl Guides Kick Off Annual Cookie Sale in Calgary with Over 17,000 Cases**

**Girl Guides Kick Off Annual Cookie Sale in Calgary with Over 17,000 Cases**

On Saturday, Calgary welcomed over 17,000 cases of delicious Girl Guide cookies, marking the beginning of an exciting fundraising campaign that many have been looking forward to all year.

"It's such a great fundraiser because selling cookies not only helps the girls learn valuable skills, but who can resist a cookie?" shared Megan Belenky, a PR advisor for Girl Guides of Canada.

The cookies, sold at six dollars a box, help fund a variety of Girl Guide activities, including camps, badges, and travel to events in places like Italy and Switzerland. This tradition has been a crucial part of Girl Guide culture since 1927, according to Belenky.

"This is our primary fundraiser," she explained. "Selling cookies provides the bulk of our funds."

More than just financial support, the experience of selling cookies imparts essential life lessons to the girls, such as resilience in the face of rejection and appreciation for community support.

"They learn to be gracious when someone decides not to purchase cookies, and they gain communication skills while expressing gratitude to everyone who supports them," Belenky noted.

Look out for Girl Guides in your neighborhood and local stores as they sell their cookies, with all proceeds directly benefitting the organization.