Lake City Hospital partners with Girl Scouts of Gateway Council for cookie distribution event

HCA Florida Lake City Hospital today hosted the Cookie Drop for the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. The Cookie Drop is a distribution event for local troops to receive their allocation of Girl Scout cookies. HCA Florida Lake City Hospital assisted in the Cookie Drop by organizing and distributing 1,000 cases of cookies to five Girl Scout troops from Lake City, Fort White, and High Springs.

“It is an honor to be a resource to our community partners by hosting the Girl Scouts Cookie Drop at our hospital,” said Jill Adams, CEO of HCA Florida Lake City Hospital. “As a former Girl Scout, I know the importance of funds raised through annual cookie sales to support troop activities throughout the year, including leadership and character development.”

The Girl Scout Cookie Program provides entrepreneurial opportunities for Girl Scouts to learn and grow their professional skills. The funds raised from the Cookie Program stay local and provide resources for Girl Scouts to become well-rounded individuals through various educational and recreational programs.

“When I ask girls what their favorite part of Girl Scouts is, time and again, they tell me it’s the Cookie Program,” said Wendy Dordel, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. “Accomplishing goals, talking with customers, and earning rewards, girls thrive when given the opportunity and environment to achieve to the level that is right for them. The cookie is so much more than a sweet treat - it’s a gateway to her future.”

The HCA Healthcare Foundation is a proud partner of the Girl Scouts and funded a national grant to help the development of mental wellness education for troops through the Mental Wellness Patch Program. The program aims to teach girls in grades 4-12 to recognize and understand their feelings, effectively cope with mental wellness challenges, and feel comfortable seeking help and supporting others.