Girl Scout Alum Makenzie Keiser Honored By Edwardsville City Council

GSofSI Alum Makenzie Keiser was honored by the Edwardsville City Council for her service to the community while earning the Girl Scout Gold Award - the highest award in Girl Scouting. Several Marines came to show their support - as Makenzie is entering the United States Marine Corps to continue her commitment to service. 

Makenzie, who graduated as a junior from Edwardsville High School in 2018, earned the Girl Scout Gold Award by teaching area children how to grow vegetable gardens.  She collaborated with the YMCA Early Childhood Development Center to design and develop three raised gardens, then taught children how to care for them. 

“If you give children a vegetable for a day, you feed them for a day,” she said.  “If you teach children how to grow vegetables, they will always have food.  Also, children who grow vegetables are more likely to eat them.”

Makenzie was honored with the Governor's Hometown Award (GHTA) for her service to the community as well. The GHTA program gives forman recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life.

Learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award

Send a Treat to U.S. Troops During the Girl Scout Cookie Program!

You can send Girl Scout Cookies to thank American military members through GSSI's Operation: Sweet Treats campaign.  In partnership with Mission of Moms, cookies purchased through campaign will be sent to military members serving overseas as well as local military organizations in our area. Mission of Moms is an organization based in Collinsville and is dedicated to helping improve the daily lives of our deployed United States military men and women.

To find a Girl Scout in your area, please call 800.345.6858 or click here.  Donations to Operation: Sweet Treats can be made through the new Digital Cookie online platform.

Last year, GSSI was able to send 1,120 cases of Girl Scout Cookies to current and veteran U.S. military members. 

Photos of U.S. Service Members Enjoying Girl Scout Cookies sent through 
our 2015 Gift of Caring Campaign:

New Gift of Caring Photos of U.S. Service Members Enjoying Girl Scout Cookies

Our Gift of Caring partner, Mission of Moms, has sent us more photos of U.S. Service Members enjoying Girl Scout Cookies sent from Southern Illinois.  These very special "thank yous" make our holiday season extra merry and bright!

Thank You from Afghanistan

Thank You from Iraq

Thank You from the USS Cape St. George 

The USS Cape St. George 

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois & Mission of Moms Sending 2,176 Cans of Honey Roasted Peanuts to U.S. Troops

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) and Mission of Moms are sending 2,176 cans of honey roasted peanuts to members of the U.S. military.  The treats were donated through the "Project Thank You," campaign that allows customers to make a purchase to send to troops during GSSI's Nut, Candy & Magazine (NCM) program this fall.

Giving back to American service members is a traditional part of GSSI product programs.  Thanks to the generosity of our supporters during the 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Program, 1,120 total cases of Girl Scout Cookies were donated to U.S. Troops around the globe.  The 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Program will run Jan. 9-30, with Cookie Booth Weekends on January 9-10, February 26-28, March 4-6 and March 11-13.  Watch for more information on how you can send Girl Scout Cookies in support and appreciation of them military during the upcoming Cookie Program. 

Mission of Moms is an nonprofit based in Collinsville that is dedicated to helping improve the daily lives of our deployed United States military men and women. 

Gift of Caring Collaborator Soldiers' Angels Shows U.S. Troops with Girl Scout Cookies

U.S. service members enjoying donated Girl Scout Cookies. 
Photo courtesy of Soldier's Angels 

Nonprofit Soldiers' Angels provides comfort and care packages to U.S. service members - including donated Girl Scout Cookies.  GSSI was able to collaborate with the agency to distribute about 500 cases of Girl Scout Cookies that were donated through the Gift of Caring campaign during this year's Girl Scout Cookie Program.  See Soldiers' Angels "Girl Scout Cookies" photo album

GSSI was also able to donate 620 cases of Girl Scout Cookies to Collinsville nonprofit Mission of Moms through this year's Gift of Caring campaign during the Girl Scout Cookie Program.  Read more...

Soldiers Send Thank You for Gift of Caring Cookies

We are so grateful for the men and women in our U.S. military for their courage, honor and service to our great nation.

This happy moment was made possible through the generous support of our "Gift of Caring" program during this year's Girl Scout Cookie Program. Special thanks to southern Illinois nonprofit Mission of Moms for helping us share our appreciation for these American military heroes.

Share this photo on Facebook to show customers how their Gift of Caring donations makes an impact! 

GSSI Donates 620 Cases of Girl Scout Cookies to U.S. Military Through Mission of Moms

(L-R) Product Program Director Kelly Jansen, GSSI Intern McKenna Cooper, GSSI Intern Meagan Bowers, Mission of Moms Director Marcia Fish, GSSI Intern Kelsey Whitaker & GSSI Intern Alecia Williams

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois delivered 620 cases of Girl Scout Cookies to Marcia Fish, Director of Mission to Moms, a nonprofit in Collinsville with the mission of "supporting our deployed military."

These tasty treats for our U.S. troops were donated through GSSI's "Gift of Caring" program.   Another 500 cases, for 1120 total cases of Girl Scout Cookies, are also being donated to Soldier's Angels, a large-scale nonprofit that "provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, their families, and a growing veteran population."

GSSI is so grateful for the generosity of those who supported the Gift of Caring program this year and enabled us to show our support for U.S. military members and veterans.