Sending support (and Thin Mints) to Dad

For Dad, his favorite is the Thin Mint, but he couldn't be farther from the cookie. He is thousands of miles away, in an undisclosed location in Afghanistan on an undisclosed mission with D company of his U.S. Army aviation unit.

The one month he has been gone will slowly turn into a year and a half for his wife and daughters, Kay Renee, 9 and Amber, 7.

The girls, along with the support of Girl Scout Troop 582, are sending Daddy and others in his unit, boxes of Thin Mints, yes, but also boxes of Do-Si-Dos, Trefoils, Peanut Butter Patties and the other Girl Scout cookies.

"I talked to him two days ago," Kay Renee said. "I told him about the cookies. He was really excited because he hasn't tasted a Girl Scout Cookie in a long time."

The daughters know from experience their dad, Shawn's, favorite tastes.

"Whenever he ordered Girl Scout cookies, he always ordered three or two boxes of Thin Mints," Kay Renee said.

"Or five," added sister Amber.

Thursday, the Brownies and Girl Scouts in Troop 582 bustled around Troop Leader Janine Gilliam's living room. They packed the cookies into boxes, then took them out at Gilliam's direction, and packed them into larger boxes, creating chaos and fun - and a Kay Renee who talked miles a minute about Dad.

"He always stands up for me and cares for me and takes care of me," she said. "He used to come to my swimming meets and if I got eliminated, he would go in the water with me. He would teach me. If anything happens to him, I'll be really sad."

Each girl has different thoughts about what cookies the troops will eat first, whether they'll share their cookies and what they'll think of the messages people wrote on the donated boxes.

But their dedication has been consistent. Since the beginning of cookies sales, the 13 girls and their parents have set up sales outside of stores with a display of Shawn and an option to purchase cookies for his unit.

"While we were at Raley's, we had some veterans and people in uniform come up and take a look at what was going on," said troop parent Colleen Pearson. "I think, for me, it was the retired veterans who stood out. They were really supportive."

One woman purchased 20 boxes of Girl Scout cookies for the troops at once. Another lady purchased 10. Others donated their change.

"After 9/11, I think people have really responded," said troop parent Angie Diesner. "I think people like to help."

That's why Dad and his faraway unit in Afghanistan will be eating Thin Mints sometime soon, far away from home, but not so far from people's hearts.

n Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.