MADISON – After successful sales with Girl Scout cookies, Troop 10700 members wanted to use a portion of profits to help homeless animals.

“The girls wanted to help Madison Animal Rescue Foundation because they love animals. Some girls have pets at home and have cared about animals for a long time,” co-leader Rachel Holloway said.

Seventeen girls sold 2,504 boxes and collected money for 113 boxes for veterans to raise more than $10,000 for Girl Scouts and more than $1,000 for the troop. “Our phenomenal ‘Cookie Manager’ and co-leader, Stephanie Cofer, provided stats about our 2017 sale,” Holloway said.

The girls decided to make blankets for MARF cat cages and dog toys with braided, cloth strips. They spent $27 from cookie profits to buy no-pill, fleece fabric for double-sided blankets. Blankets have a cheetah print on one side, with a yellow stripe on the other.

Dog toys cost nothing because the girls recycled discarded T-shirts and fabric scraps. “The girls braided ropes – some big for larger dogs, some small — for dogs to chew and play tug-of-war. Part of the Girl Scout Law says to ‘use resources wisely,’” Holloway said.

The girls delivered the toys and blankets to a MARF adoption at Petco on April 8. “Our wonderful friends with MARF were very grateful for the blankets and toys. Nadine McConkey with MARF told us the cat blankets look fabulous … and the dogs were happy to have new toys,” Holloway said.

Troop 10700 includes Kaylee Cedeno, Elizabeth Cofer, Penelope Holloway, Samantha LaRocque, Gisele Rivera and Anya Tupps.

“The girls learned their actions make a difference for others. They felt empowered to help a cause that matters personally to them,” Holloway said. “They’re living by Girl Scout Law — be considerate, be responsible and make the world a better place.”

These Scouts also had plenty of fun, “developed long-lasting friendships with their Girl Scout ‘sisters,’ building confidence and character,” Holloway said.

In addition, the Scouts used cookie profits to buy a wagon, which they will decorate and deliver to patients at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham.

In past outreach, Troop 10700 helped MARF with a food drive and caroling at an adoption. They published a pet book and donated copies to school libraries. “They’ve had a heart for animals from a young age,” she said.

Troop 10700 has students from Heritage, West Madison, Columbia and Mill Creek elementary schools and one home school.