SOUTH PORTLAND – For nearly 90 years the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program has helped girls foster a sense of personal and collective empowerment by promoting skills they will use throughout their lives.

Through the annual activity, girls learn how to set goals, develop action plans to reach the goals, work together as a team and cultivate a sense of business ethics.

Additionally, they build confidence by developing public speaking and interpersonal communication skills. Girls also acquire knowledge in money management, marketing and customer service.

This year’s program will begin Friday, Jan. 6. Girl Scouts will contact residents in their community. They will sell two new cookies this year: Thanks-A-Lot and Cartwheels. Others, such as Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbread, Lemon Pastry Cremes and Thin Mints, will also be available.

Proceeds of the annual cookie sale will allow Girl Scouts of Kennebec Council to continue to offer programs to more than 10,000 girls in 10 counties of southern, central and western Maine. For more information, contact Carol Smith at 772-1177 or via e-mail at [email protected].