When Carlie Wade became a Girl Scout three years ago, she set out to be the best, setting goals and working hard to accomplish them.

For the third year in a row, Wade has been named Sampson County’s top seller for the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Wade sold 1,368 boxes of Girl Scout cookies as part of the annual program that ended in March.

According to Kelly Griffin, product sales director for Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines, participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program is a long-held and cherished tradition for girls, with recognition as a top cookie seller a coveted honor.

Being named a top seller goes beyond what’s in the box as it highlights a girl’s determination to set and achieve goals, develop business and financial literacy skills, and enhance their entrepreneurial spirit.

“The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the perfect opportunity for girls to develop important skills that they will use throughout their life while raising funds to support future leadership endeavors with Girl Scouts,” Griffin said.

Wade, who is a fifth-grade student at Hobbton Elementary, says she has learned how to work together with other members of her troop to sell the cookies.

“It takes hard work, getting up early on Saturday mornings, and working cookie booths and asking all of my friends and family members to support me,” Wade shared.

Wade was among more than 12,000 girls who participated in the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Program and sold more than 3 million boxes of cookies. Approximately 2,400 girls sold more than 400 boxes of cookies each. Additionally, 320 girls sold more than 1,000 boxes each.

The more boxes sold, Wade explained, the more funds her troop earns to purchase supplies. Cookie sellers also earn prizes.

This year, the council exceeded their Operation Cookie Drop goal by collecting donations to send over 95,000 boxes of cookies to the military men and women proudly serving our country, and culminating in over a million boxes delivered through this council-wide service project since its inception in 2005.

“We collect donations and then we turn them in and Girl Scouts has the boxes of cookies shipped out to troops over seas,” Wade said.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program helps support girls in achieving the goals they set for program activities, community service projects and philanthropy, and ensures all girls are afforded access to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. For over 100 years, the Girl Scout Cookie Program has also provided life changing leadership opportunities for every G.I.R.L (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, and Leader).

For Wade, she says it has given her the opportunity to meet people and volunteer throughout her community.

“I enjoy lots of things about Girl Scouts,” Wade said. “Like meeting every other weekend with my friends, the pool party in the summer, earning badges, visiting the nursing homes at Christmas and volunteering in my community.”

Finishing out the top spots in Sampson were Rebekah Bryan, who placed second with 1,339 boxes sold and Karson Wilson, who placed third with 815 boxes sold. Both Wade and Wilson are in Troop No. 1620 and Bryan is in Troop No. 4021.

Joining the Sampson County Girl Scouts, the overall council top sellers are Alyssa Judkins, Ruth Lahl, and Madeline Fischer. Judkins of Durham County placed first by selling 7,981 boxes, and Lahl of Cumberland County placed second with 6,162 boxes. Fischer of New Hanover County placed third by selling 4,765 boxes.

Carlie Wade is the Sampson County top seller for the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Program.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_IMG_8846.jpgCarlie Wade is the Sampson County top seller for the 2018 Girl Scout Cookie Program.

By Kristy D. Carter

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