I’ve been doing some research on Girl Scout cookies. It doesn’t seem like a very broad topic, right?

After I dug around, I started asking myself all kinds of questions: What flavors do they have this year? Are the flavors always the same, or did they switch things up because of the dreaded peanut butter recall? Does a Girl Scout have to wear a uniform when selling her cookies? Oh, and how many boxes (I’ll bet they don’t keep stats on this one) are actually purchased by the parents of the beloved scout. Scary, I just had a flashback of selling (and buying) candy for my daughter’s cheer leading squad. I found most of my answers on the Girl Scout website.

We will have our own Girl Scout cookie experts at American Red Cross on April 11th for the “Girls Save Lives 2009” blood drive. The blood drive will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Red Cross Portland Donor Center, located at 3131 N. Vancouver Avenue.

And, the answer to the cookie question is–yes–helping save lives really does taste better than Girl Scout cookies!

Girl Scouts and their donors will receive Pizza Hut discount coupons. Photo opportunities with the Red Cross mascot will also be available, as well as immediate scrap-booking of photos at a Creative Memories station. Other entertainment for Girl Scouts while their adults donate includes a button-making station, face painting, movies, and a visit by the Rose City Clowns. Girl Scouts may also be interested in babysitting classes offered at the Red Cross.