Bigfork’s Girl Scouts spent last weekend taking pre-orders for their annual Girl Scout cookie sale at Harvest Foods and a portion of the proceeds will go toward the Bigfork Food Bank.

Last year the girls bought 263 pounds of food for the food bank with just the money earned from selling cookies, and learned how to save money by using coupons while doing so.

The girls only receive 50 cents per box of cookies sold, and that money is used for activities throughout the year. As of noon on Sunday the troop had sold 340 boxes of cookies, not counting their individual sales.

“Cookie sales teach our girls five points they will carry throughout their lives,” Bigfork Girl Scout Troop Leader Marie Duncan-Wagers said.

Those five points are setting realistic goals, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

“Most young Girl Scouts are scared to ask anyone if they would like to order a box of Girl Scout cookies,” Duncan-Wagers said. “However, once they begin, they shine.”

The local troop has grown from just three girls to 12 in the last year.

The troop currently consists of two Brownie Girl Scouts, nine Junior Girl Scout (grades 4-5) and one Cadette Girl Scout (sixth- grade).

Three of the Junior Girl Scouts, Maya Hartig, Destiny Otten and Acacia Otten are working on their Junior Guide Badge this cookie season and are training the newer girls on how to sell cookies.