LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Try walking into the base exchange, shoppette or commissary in February without buying a box of Thin Mints or Samoa cookies.
With veteran Girl Scout Deanna Carmen - the Southwest Texas region's top seller- manning the cookie booths, it's nearly impossible.
Her secret: dedication and lots of practice.
Sitting at booths stacked with sweets, she knows people simply can't resist the two most popular cookies, although she would probably recommend the peanut butter Tagalongs.
"I've been doing it for 10 years now," Deanna, a member of Troop 9393, said. "If they say 'no thank you' I just wait until they came back out and I ask them again."
But she also has back up.
There are four other active troops at Lackland: Daisy Troop 329, Brownie Troop 118, Junior Troop 728, and Older Girls Troop 507, all under the supervision of troop leader Twila Carmen-Stewart.
During cookie season, January through February, the combined Girl Scout troops sold 11,868 boxes exclusively to the base community, its highest total ever.
The troops combined sales total topped their best effort last year by nearly 3,000 boxes, and earned each troop more than $1,000 to fund trips and fun activities.
"We just went out there and did it," said Mrs. Carmen-Stewart. "It was all the girls."
Mrs. Carmen-Stewart said when the girls heard the news of their accomplishment their eyes got very large as they thought about what to do with their reward.
In the past, the troops have participated in various activities: going to the bowling alley, backyard campouts, trips to Natural Bridge Caverns, Enchanted Rock, Seaworld. The list grows every year.
The plan for this year's profit is still undecided; however, the girls did take their mothers to Olive Garden on Mother's Day.
And altruism is no strange concept to these troops.
Mrs. Carmen-Stewart said giving back to the community is highly valued and promoted among her troops.
"If it wasn't for them, helping out the girls, then we wouldn't be able to sell cookies," the troop leader said. "So, we thank them."
More than that, the girls aided buyers in donating more than 400 boxes to Child Safe, a non-profit organization that helps sexually abused children this past cookie season.
The troops performed the same service last year as well, with the troops meeting firsthand with the cookie recipients.
"It was really fun," Deanna said. "Just seeing the expressions on their faces was amazing. They don't ever get to experience Girl Scout cookies."
Other acts of kindness include making decorative crafts for Meals On Wheels and holding food drives for the San Antonio Food Bank.
Teaching the girls scouts to be active in the community has lasting effects.
Deanna is also nearing the end of her Girl Scouts career as she enters her senior year at Stacey High School.
Part of her last year as a Girl Scout includes coming up with a big idea to help improve the environment.
"It's taught me leadership and how to voice my opinion and get out there and get new girls to join," she said.
In the future she wants to continue helping others as a special education teacher.
For the other girls, Mrs. Carmen-Stewart said she's not sure what next year will bring for the Girl Scouts, save for cookie booths and the inevitable charity it supports.