AREA TROOPS SET TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL GIRL SCOUT WEEK

They're probably more famous for their cookie sales than anything else, but area Girl Scouts will be doing much more in the community this week as part of a national Girl Scout Week.

Troops sponsored through area schools will collect canned goods and boxed foods that will be sorted and delivered to the Missouri Division of Family Services for delivery at Eastertime.

Another group of scouts will pick up trash around St. Vincent de Paul school and the public library.

Girl Scouts from Nell Holcomb School will participate in a Powderpuff Derby from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday night. The girls have already built racing cars and will drive them around the school's track that evening.

The theme for the week is "Girl Scouts: Still strong in the 21st century."

"There are lots of different ways to be a Girl Scout," said Laura Hinkebein of the Girl Scouts of Otahki Council. "You can belong in other ways than just troops."

The Girl Scouts latest push is trying to give every girl an opportunity to be part of the organization. Membership is nearly 3.6 million girls nationally and about 3,000 in the region.