SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Grab your cup of coffee or hot mug of tea and and warm up your dipping hand because it’s Girl Scout Cookie time.

But whether you dunk, nibble or eat them whole shouldn’t really matter because it’s hard to resist Thin Mints, Samoas or Lemon Chalet Cremes.

Beginning Jan. 11 residents in south Baldwin County will have the opportunity to purchase the famous cookies from girls donning those unique uniforms.

According to Molly Smart, director of marketing for the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, there are seven troops in Spanish Fort.

They range in ages 5-18 and are mixed from surrounding areas.

Becky Tomaso manages the troops in Spanish Fort, Daphne and Fairhope, and Mary Steudle is troop leader of the Girl Scout Brownie Troop 425 of Spanish Fort.

“I decided to become part of a the great organization of Girl Scouts because I wanted my young daughter to grow up to learn values such as leadership and compassion for others,” Tomaso wrote via e-mail. “Now, nine years later, not only do I see her becoming a young woman of strength and character, I have bonded and become friends with many leaders who share similar values.”

According to Steudle, Troop 425 participated last year in the 2007 Gift of Caring Project. She said while selling the cookies the girls asked customers if they wanted to donate cookies to the U.S. Coast Guard.

“Troop 425 chose the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Baranof to receive their donated cookies,” Steudle said. “The Cutter Baranof is currently serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and is patrolling in the Persian Gulf near Bahrain. The 22-member crew of the Baranof is commanded by Lt. Kate Higgins, a former Girl Scout.”

According to Steudle, 84 boxes of Girl Scout cookies along with cards and letters written by Troop 425 were sent to the Baranof crew.

While the troops will still be accepting donations to send to servicemen and women serving overseas, Gift of Caring packages will also be delivered by Girl Scouts in their communities to senior citizen centers, women’s and children’s shelters, food banks, family crisis and abuse centers and other charity organizations.

How the proceeds from Girl Scout cookies are divvied is pre-determined by each troop or independent. Some donate to local charities, others put the money toward camp fees, while others use the money to pay for a trip.

According to Smart, one troop in Monroe County saved their cookie money over the years and traveled to Europe.

Katie Finney, a senior at McGill-Toolen High School and resident of Daphne, has been a Girl Scout for 13 years. Finney followed in the footsteps of her mother who was a Girl Scout and a troop leader. Her favorite cookie is the Samoa.

Finney is an independent Girl Scout, which means she still participates in events and programs of her choice but at her own pace and the help of an advisor.

“After the first couple of years I started loving it,” Finney said. “I love camping and all the things we do outdoors.”

Finney said she sells cookies the same way the girls involved in a troop sells.

“Usually I start with the neighborhood and go to different neighbors there, but I’ve also sold at different stores,” she said.

Like the troop in Monroe County, Finney has used her cookie money to travel.

“When I was in eighth grade we used the cookie money to go Savannah (Ga.) to the Juliette Lowe Museum,” Finney said. “It was a whole cultural experience.”

Cookies are $3.50 per box. Pre-orders will be taken Jan. 11-Jan. 27 with cookie delivery set for Feb. 12-Feb. 16. In case you miss the pre-order, don’t think you’ve lost out on those mouth watering sweets. Girls will also have booths set up at various locations Feb. 17-March 16.

As the Girl Scout troops continue to grow in number and size, one of the biggest obstacles Tomaso said she faces as a service area manager is finding enough leaders for the troops.

“So many people feel that since they do not have a daughter in Scouts they can not be a leader. Not so,” she said. “Also, so many parents feel that they work full time or feel that they lack leadership skills. I want to encourage all volunteers to consider joining Girl Scouts.”