In addition to raising funds through cookie sales to help girls and to defer troop costs, Brownie Troop 15741 of Dunsmore, Fremont, Mountain Avenue, Mountain View, Verdugo Woodlands, and Village Christian elementary schools is donating a portion of its profits to The Reece LoCicero Medical Fund.

For each box sold, the Troop receives 75 cents. The cookie funds help defer costs of the different activities held throughout the year, however the girls, who are celebrating their second year of selling the sought-after treats, wanted to do more with their proceeds.

Last year as Daisies, they contacted Los Angeles Social Services to locate a girl of similar age in need. They found Heidi in Los Angeles and purchased clothes, school supplies, books, grocery store gift cards, and a bicycle for her. Because Heidi lived in an unsafe area, the Daisies were never able to meet her. They wrapped the items and made homemade cards that were given to Heidi’s grandparents by the troop leaders.

This year the girls wanted to help someone closer to home.  They found out about a 6-year-old boy, Reece LoCicero, in Montrose who suffers from an undiagnosed medical condition that causes internal bleeding in his intestines and colon. Reece has been in and out of the hospital since he was six months old. His parents lost their apartment and his mother lost her job due to Reece’s hospitalization. Reece and his family now live with his dad’s grandmother as they struggle to pay Reece’s medical bills. Troop 15741 decided to help with some of Reece’s medical expenses.  They hope to donate approximately $500 from the funds they collect from their cookie sales to the Reece LoCicero Medical Fund.

Troop 15741 will be selling their cookies at Vons on Foothill and Pennsylvania from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 20. The community is encouraged to come and help them support the Reece LoCicero Medical Fund by stopping by Vons to purchase their Girl Scout cookies.

Contributed by Deborah PARKER

  Brownie troops, Cookie sale