Photo by Zachary Siebert / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

The Girl Scouts may be in a neighborhood or office near you selling their well-known cookies. The time for Girl Scout cookies sales in the area has changed.

Sidney Owens of St. Joseph has already sold some Girl Scout cookies to family and friends. Before November is over, she hopes to sell 300 boxes.

“They could be great stocking stuffers,” said the 13-year-old member of Troop 8032.

You’re not alone if you’re thinking it’s too early for Girl Scout cookies. And in past years, you would be right. Girls Scouts in this area normally sold the cookies early in the year.

All that has changed.

The Midland Empire Girl Scouts has joined with the Kansas City and Topeka, Kan., councils to form the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri. Gina Garvin, director of public relations and marketing for the Kansas City-based organization, said it made sense to hold only one cookie sale for the area.

“We are one of the earliest-selling councils in the United States,” she said.

Cookie sales began Nov. 1 and will run through Nov. 30. Although they won’t be delivered in time to be stocking stuffers, the popular cookies will arrive shortly after the new year begins. Delivery will be between Jan. 5 and 14, and booth sales will begin Jan. 10, according to Ms. Garvin.

The cookies still cost $3.50 a box ($2.44 of that cost goes to troop and council programs and activities). And yes, there will be Thin Mints.

“Thin Mints is the No. 2 cookie only to the Oreo,” Ms. Garvin said.

Other favorites such as Peanut Butter Patties, Lemonades, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbread, Thanks-a-Lot and Sidney’s favorite, Caramel deLites, will be back. There will be a new cookie, as well.

Daisy-Go-Rounds, a cinnamon-flavored cookie, comes in 100-calorie packs. The cookie honors the Daisy Scouts, those kindergarten and first-graders who are being allowed to sell cookies to family and friends for the first time. Although the cookie sale is a major fundraiser for the Girl Scouts, it is meant to teach the girls lifelong skills, such as self-confidence, responsibility, decision-making and goal-setting.

Selling cookies in November could be a challenge. Sidney, who has been in Girl Scouts since she was 5, said some people might have cookies left over from earlier this year.

“I think that it might take a little while, maybe a year or so, to get into it,” Sidney said.

But that hasn’t stopped Sidney from setting her usual goal of selling 200 to 300 boxes. She made her goal in the past and hopes to do so again this year.

Cathy Woolridge can be reached

at cathyw@npgco.com.