Courtesy of Cyndi Young-Preston

Beth Raynes is dressed to promote a Girl Scout cookie sale in 2009. This year, cookies will be sold until April 11.

Haven't been bombarded by girls or their parents pushing Girl Scout Cookies?

Blame it on the weather.

Snow, sleet and freezing rain in early February disrupted plans by hundreds of girls in the Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council to sell nearly a million boxes -- in eight varieties -- of cookies door-to-door and during public activities.

Before the bad weather struck, the council had nearly 80,000 cases of cookies delivered to 90 distribution sites in the 36 counties it serves.

The cookies can't stay at the distribution sites, so the council has extended its 2010 cookie sale to April 11.

That means scouts, their leaders and parents will be selling cookies in their neighborhoods and from booths at supermarkets, department stores, restaurants and other businesses.

Initial cookie orders were "a bit better than last year," even though fewer girls are participating in the Scouting program, said Arlene Wilhelm, the council's product sales manager.

But, actual sales are low, "and we do attribute it to the weather," she added.

Scout leaders asked for the extension, which will give the girls an opportunity to sell cookies during their spring breaks.

The cookie sale is the largest fundraising activity for Girl Scouts. Of the $3.50 cost of a box of Girl Scout cookies, 91 cents goes to the bakery. The rest stays with the troop and the council.

Cookie proceeds help fund hundreds of programs for the girls, training for volunteers and scholarships for those who can't afford membership fees and program costs. They also allow the council to maintain three program centers.

To offset the low sales, the council has instituted several promotional activities.

In one, scouts are offering a coupon for a year's worth of cookies -- 52 boxes of any variety -- to everyone who buys five boxes of cookies. An April drawing will determine the winner.

The "Treat Your Staff to a Milk & Cookies Break!" promotion involves troops delivering cookies to offices and serving the employees. The girls also will set up a cookie booth.

Cookies also can be purchased at the cookie cupboard at the council office, 3663 Peters Creek Road.

For more information on the Girl Scouts cookie sale, call Wilhelm at 777-5105 or visit www.gsvsc.org.