On Feb. 21, Virginia Pearson, co-founder of Operation Sandbox, donated over 800 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq along with those serving on the home front as well. The Girl Scout cookies were donated by Charlotte McGuley who is currently working on her gold star award through the Girl Scout program.

"I did this with my sister last year," McGuley said. "I decided that I wanted to continue to do it this year as well to show my support for the troops who risk their lives for our freedom everyday."

McGuley also collected over 750 letters to send to the troops overseas.

"I just wanted them to know that we haven't forgotten about them. We still remember them in our thoughts every day and will never be able to say thank you enough for everything they have done," McGuley continued.

Pearson raises the money to send the boxes over seas by doing two bike rides, one in
Covington and another in Augusta.

"The Ride for the Troops has brought in a lot of revenue for us over the past few years. It's great to see everyone gather together to raise money for us to help out these men and women who have so greatly served our country," Pearson said.

The cookies will not only be going to the troops over seas but representatives from Ft. Gordon were present as well. Both the National Guard and U.S. Army gather boxes of cookies to take to their troops stationed on the home front.

"Along with the troops from Ft. Gordon, we also sent boxes of cookies hospitals for wounded soldiers as well. They need just as much support from us as they begin to recover from their devastating injuries," Pearson continued.

Operation Sandbox volunteers have a special list of names of soldiers who will receive cookies. The list is contains names of the volunteers' loved ones names that community members submit.

"Not all of the volunteers have family members or friends who serve in the Armed Forces. When we compile our list of names, we ask people in the community to send in their names as well as find soldiers who don't have anyone to support them," Pearson said.

Operation Sandbox has been sending out Girl Scout cookies for five years. They hope to continue doing so as long as there are donations and funds to keep the project going.

"It is a wonderful thing to be able to bring a smile to a soldier's face and to let him or her know that we are so thankful for his service," Pearson concluded.