It won’t be just trick-or-treaters knocking on doors on Halloween this year. Oct. 31 is when the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and North Missouri will be kicking off their annual cookie sale.

Customers will be able to place their orders for Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbreads, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Lemonades, Thanks-A-Lots and Daisy Go-Rounds until Nov. 29. The price is $3.50 per box, and deliveries will be made Jan. 3 through 2, next year.

“It’s our founder’s birthday, so we thought that’s a great day to kick off our sales,” says Gina Garvin, Girl Scouts public relations and marketing director.

Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, was born on Oct. 31, 1860, in Savannah, Ga.

To help with the kick-off, St. Joseph Mayor Ken Shearin plans to celebrate by hosting “Milk and Girl Scout Cookies with the Mayor” at 3 p.m. Oct. 30 in his office.

“He is always wanting to help the kids,” says Jeré McKay, administrative assistant to the mayor.

And the cookie sales help the girls in many ways, Ms. Garvin says. They learn lifelong skills, including goal setting, time management and financial literacy, along with building self-confidence, responsibility and interpersonal communication. Cookie sales also support troop and councilwide programs.

“Everyone loves a yummy treat,” Ms. Garvin says, “but for Girl Scouting, it’s our biggest way of financial support.”

For more information on cookie sales in your neighborhood, call (800) 728-8750 or visit www.girlscouts ksmo.org.

Lifestyles reporter Sylvia Anderson may be reached at sylviaanderson@npgco.com.