Paper Cranes and Cookie Cash to Japan

The Press Enterprise, CA, reports that from now until April 23, $1 from every box of Girl Scout Cookies sold by the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council will be donated to the Girl Scouts of Japan Relief Fund. This fund will be used for families affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

"I challenge our troops to join me in raising $10,000 by April 23. It's so easy for all of us to get caught up in our own day-to-day troubles. Yet none of them are as significant as the troubles disaster victims are facing right now in Japan," Elizabeth Locke-Thomas, vice president of retail and product sales, said in a statement to the council's troops.

In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Girl Scouts of Japan mailed thousands of paper cranes to their Girl Scout sisters across the United States in an expression of peace and friendship. American Girl Scouts now invite their friends and neighbors to buy cookies or make a paper heart or crane to bring hope to families in Japan who may have none.

Similarly, when five Girl Scouts in Troop 76 from Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways heard about the March 11 earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, they were concerned.

Binghamton's News 34 reports that the girls recently represented Japan at a World Thinking Day celebration. As part of their study of traditional Japanese culture, they learned to fold paper cranes. Like the California Girl Scouts, the girls learned that Japanese Girl Scouts folded and sent thousands of paper cranes to New York to show their goodwill and sympathy after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

The policy by Girl Scouts of the USA that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations has been temporarily suspended in order for Girl Scouts to support the relief efforts. This is why the girls decided that instead of trying to mail 1,000 paper cranes to Japan, they would fold a thousand cranes and sell them for $1 each and send a check, along with a picture of them with the cranes, to Japan.

Do you have any examples to share about how Girl Scouts are contributing to relief efforts in Japan?