The sun was shining brightly on Saturday, March 19, when we gathered at Hanscom Air Force Base to distribute nearly 20,000 packages of Girl Scout Cookies to six military and veteran organizations. The event concluded our 2016 Cookies for a Cause program, which allows Girls Scouts to accept donations for military organizations, food pantries and other local charities throughout the cookie season.

Approximately 450 Girl Scouts and their families attended, each girl getting the opportunity to snap a photo with her troop, military personnel and our surprise guest, the Boston Bruins’ mascot Blades the bear!

A Daisy from Hyde Park troop 72128 proudly displays her thank you note to the military community.

Troops also gathered around the art supplies to write thank you notes of encouragement and gratitude to our service-men and -women, which will be included in cookie shipments to military personnel deployed around the world.

Col. David Dunklee, 66th Air Base Group commander, gave a heartwarming speech thanking Girl Scouts for the cookies:

Thank you for honoring us with these cookies; they will be going to service members all around the world.

Col. David Dunklee, 66th Air Base Group commander, with GSEM’s Chief Operations Officer Barb Fortier.

Our very own Chief Operations Officer Barbara Fortier reinforced why events like Cookies for a Cause really matter, not just to our military but to Girl Scouts as well:

Girl Scouts’ efforts throughout cookie season culminate at the event held at Hanscom Air Force Base. They can see firsthand how their efforts benefit the military community and they can interact with military personnel. The girls look forward to donating cookies to the agencies that provide critical services to military personnel and especially look forward to meeting the airmen who volunteer at the event.

Did your troop attend the event?
Browse the gallery of photos on Facebook here.