Setting up shop for a few hours on Sunday, the Heart of Central California Girl Scouts were busy selling cookies. Lots of cookies.

It is that time of year, as the pop-up booths and tables for sales of the iconic cookies – from Thin Mints to Peanut Butter Patties – are now in evidence throughout the region.

On Feb. 23, one of the locations open for business in Oakdale was at Ace Hardware on East F Street, with Troop 3155 members, eight-year-old Ellie Snelling and seven-year-old Anaiya Bailey, on the job.

“I just like the cookies and I also like selling them,” Ellie shared, adding that it makes her feel good knowing people enjoy the cookies.

Her younger counterpart preferred the financial side of the operation.

“I like doing the money,” said Anaiya.

Helping run the booth were moms Julianna Snelling and Doniece Hill.

“They get a little bit of leadership experience, counting money, doing math, multiplying,” said Snelling of the Girl Scout Cookie project. “But it’s also getting themselves out there and advertising for sales.”

Hill said she and her daughter have been involved with Girl Scouts for about a year and a half and are happy with the variety of events they have found in the program.

“I really like that it builds on their social skills and leadership and they have a lot of STEM activities, lots of outdoor experiences,” Hill said.

Along with Ace Hardware at 1010 E. F St., booths in Oakdale can be found at Save Mart, 1449 E. F and Tractor Supply, 1580 E. F St.

Hours vary; there are also booth sales in neighboring Riverbank and Escalon scheduled over the next couple of weeks. Go to the ‘Girl Scout Cookie Finder’ at www.girlscoutcookies.org; put in your Zip Code to see booth locations and sale hours in your area.