The end of October marks the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year. We're talking about Girl Scout cookie season, of course. That's why we looked into it when we received a note that Annapolis Girl Scout Community 46 was told that Giant Food placed new restrictions on outside sales for groups.

For the scouts, grocery stores provide a safe place on the weekends to interact with members of the community to sell cookies and popcorn. As cookie season ends and the holidays begin, the Salvation Army starts their Red Kettle Campaign and a reader wondered how the new Giant guidelines would impact that as well.

The official response from Jamie Miller, manager of public and community relations for Giant Food, is that the company is still committed to supporting nonprofit and community groups by allowing them to solicit outside the stores.

"We receive hundreds of requests from groups requesting permission to use the areas outside of our stores for fundraising, education purposes and to collect signatures," stated Miller via e-mail. 

It appears that Giant does not allow for groups, such as the Girls Scouts, to set up outside the stores on Sundays anymore. Yet, Miller maintained that the company has created additional opportunities.

"Previously groups were permitted on Saturday and Sunday," she explained.  "We have expanded the opportunities to Monday through Saturday, one group per day per store, with opportunities being coordinated and scheduled through our local store managers."

Greater Annapolis Patch could not reach the managers of the two Annapolis Giant stores for comment.

Miller added, "In regard to the Salvation Army, in order to support their good work, we have invited the organization to collect donations at all 179 of our store locations during a full week in November and a full week in December." 

To let Giant know how you feel about this policy regarding allowing groups to solicit outside of their stores, you may comment on the website or call the consumer affairs department at 888-469-4426, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you find yourself craving Girl Scout cookies, you can check the online cookie locator by clicking here to see where they're being sold around town.