Las Vegas Girl Scouts deliver cookies, goodwill to Metro police officers

The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada are working to make the world a better place, one cookie at a time.

Last month, the group donated several hundred cases of its famous cookies to an organization it knew worked toward the same goal — the Metropolitan Police Department.

After a successful cookie sale season, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada CEO Liz Ortenburger said the organization found itself with leftover cookie boxes. In light of the recent tragedies affecting police officers across the nation, Ortenburger said they thought their cookies would show their appreciation for the men and women that protect the Las Vegas Valley.

Ortenburger said they hope the treats put a smile on the officers’ faces.

“I think it’s a tough time to be a police officer, and our girls felt like it would be a good way to say thank you and to know that (they) are loved,” Ortenburger said.

Four Girl Scouts and staff members distributed their gifts to the police department’s headquarters, 400 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., and eight command stations across Las Vegas.

Ortenburger said the experience was as rewarding to her Girl Scouts as it was to the police officers, who took time out of their job to talk with the girls.

Girl Scout Brandee (last name withheld), 10, who acted as one of the four public relations representatives for the event, said she wanted to thank the police officers who work hard in her community.

“They keep us safe, and we knew that they like doughnuts, so we wanted to give them something different for a change,” she said.

Assistant Sheriff Tim Kelly, who has been on the force for 26 years, said the Girl Scouts’ donations meant the world to the officers.

“It shows that individuals respect what we do here in the community and what we provide for the community, and this is going to be a special treat for each and every officer at our command centers,” Kelly said.

In appreciation for their donations, the Sheriff’s Department presented the girls with special coins and badges to wear on their uniforms as a symbol of their gratitude.