Girl Scout Troop 700 sells cookies, publishes pet-care book

Lisa D’Antonio, media specialist at Heritage Elementary School, congratulates Daisy Scouts Allison Parsons, from left, Penny Holloway and Gabby Burns on their book, “Love Your Pets,” which Penny is holding. Rachel Holloway and Stephanie Cofer are Troop 700 leaders. (CONTRIBUTED/”HERITAGE TIMES”)

MADISON – Cookie sales is only one project that Girl Scout Troop 700 of Madison pursues during the year.

The troop’s 10 girls attend kindergarten in four elementary schools in Madison.

“They’re first-year Daisy Girl Scouts,” Rachel Holloway said. Holloway and Stephanie Cofer are leaders for Troop 700, which meets weekly at The Grove Baptist Church in Madison.

Gabby Burns, Penny Holloway and Allison Parsons attend Heritage. Delaina Reese, Ivana Rubio-Montano and Alyvia Tittle are Mill Creek students. Savannah Bull and Abigail Yarborough attend Rainbow, while Elizabeth Cofer and Modupe Isibor go to West Madison.

Currently, the Troop 700 girls are busy with the annual Girl Scout Cookie sale. With sale proceeds, the girls will pursue new service projects and “go to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center to learn about science and math,” Holloway said.

Troop 700 will sell Girl Scout Cookies on this schedule:

* Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to noon, Dollar Tree, The Shoppes of Madison, 8213 U.S. 72 W.

* Feb. 21, 10 a.m. to noon, Walgreen’s, 12010 County Line Road

* Feb. 21, noon to 2 p.m., Kroger, 300 Hughes Road

In previous work, Troop 700 earned the Festival of Trees Christmas patch. “All the girls love animals and chose projects to benefit homeless pets of Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF),” Holloway said.

First, they collected almost 200 pounds of pet food and supplies for MARF animals. Then, they sang Christmas carols at MARF adoptions, held every Saturday at Petco in Madison. They also crafted cat and dog ornaments for MARF’s entry in the Festival of Wreaths at Madison Public Library.

Heather Phillips with MARF visited a troop meeting and instructed the girls about pet care and safety. The Scouts gathered information to publish a book, “Love Your Pets,” that can help children learn about animal care.

“We’re proud and excited to share what we learned by donating copies to libraries of each school where the girls attend,” Holloway said.