Written by Tiffany Logue
Staff Writer
In support of the local National Guard, Southeastern’s Department of English, Humanities and Languages contributed money in remembrance of the 45th Division who left for Afghanistan in June.
Dr. Paula Allen said the idea for sending cookies to the local troops came up last year. She explained that while selling Girl Scout Cookies an ex-service man came to purchase their cookies.
“He told me we should send as many as we can overseas because they love them, they travel well and they are nutritious,” said Dr. Allen. Then, the idea was presented to Dr. Virginia Parrish.
After Dr. Parrish agreed to the idea, Dr. Allen and Parrish put the plan into motion. The fundraiser became known as the “Great EHL Cookie Challenge” and was held the past spring during the Girl Scout Cookie Campaign.
According to Dr. Allen, the English, Humanities and Languages Department collected the money from faculty and staff to help with the fundraiser. The Dosido’s were purchased by EHL through the Girl Scout Brownie Troop 312 who collected the money for case six. Troop 312’s team leader was Candice Dunn who helped raise the money for the sixth case around the Durant area.
The Choctaw Nation agreed to pay for the cookies being shipped overseas so that all the donations could go to buying cookies. Thanks to them, the donations raised helped the troops receive six cases of Dosido’s cookies, which are peanut butter sandwich cookies.
The cookies shipped to Afghanistan were received and distributed by Staff Sergeant Chad Young. Young’s wife Whitney said, “He’s going to take pictures of the soldiers with the boxes and send them to me…they love Girl Scout Cookies.”
