Are Girl Scouts began taking orders for cookies yesterday and will continue through Sunday, March 15.

The old favorites -- Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Shortbread, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Thanks-A-Lot, Lemonades, and Peanut Butter Patties -- are back. And there is a new addition this year -- Daisy Go Rounds.

"This new Girl Scout cookie makes it easy to snack responsibly by doing the calorie counting for you," says a spokesman. "Each carton contains five ready-to-grab-and-go snack packs full of crispy cinnamon flowers blooming with flavor in every bite."

The price per box is $3.50, and all of the proceeds generated from the Cookie Sale Program stays within the girls' local area.

In 2008, Girl Scouts -- North Carolina Coastal Pines troops earned more that $1.2 million in proceeds. That's nearly an average of $1,000 per troop.

"In fact, the 2008 cookie sale was the second most successful in the council's history," says the spokesman. "Girl Scouts in central and eastern North Carolina hope to sell 2.6 million boxes of cookies, and we need your help to achieve that goal."

Customers who purchase five or more boxes of Girl Scout cookies can enter their names in a drawing to win a year's supply of free Girl Scout cookies. Six winners will be selected.

For almost 100 years the Girl Scout Cookie Program has helped girls develop skills they will use throughout their lives. Through this annual activity, Girl Scouts ages 5-17 learn time and money management, how to set and achieve goals, the value of teamwork, how to build communication skills and customer service. These skills can even be listed on job and school applications and on resumes.

"Our annual Girl Scout Cookie Program activity helps us make the Girl Scout experience available to more than 31,000 girls in 41 counties," says Rusine Mitchell Sinclair, Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines CEO. "Last year's revenues were used to give financial aid, scholarships, and camperships. The funds also help maintain our six area camps and support local Girl Scout troops. We're also able to recruit and train volunteers and provide ongoing Girl Scout programs."

For information on how to purchase Girl Scout cookies, visit www.nccoastalpines.org.