Nino’s is delighted and proud, for a second year to support local Girl Scouts in their Valentines 4-R Troops drive by hosting this event at our Troy and Clinton Twp. locations.

Girls Scout Troop 30318 and Girl Scout Troop 74151 are on a mission to help Michigan military personnel and their families. The scouts are asking the public to visit their “Valentines 4-R Troops” booth at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace in Troy and Clinton Township, Friday through Sunday, February 20-22nd.

Girl Scout Sisters Olivia and Jade, are hosting the event, that they initiated themselves, at Nino Salvaggio locations in Clinton Township (17496 Hall Road) and Troy (6835 Rochester Road) at the following hours:

Fri: Feb 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sat: Feb.21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sun: Feb 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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You can help us by donating the following items:

Cash Donations: care packages via Operation Troop Aid.

Clothing Drop Off: for gently used and new clothing via The Disabled American Veterans.

Purchase cookies to be sent to the troops: Nino’s is donating a 100 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to kick off the drive!

The Golembiewski sisters conceived the drive in Christmas 2013, when they realized that many of those who serve in the military cannot come home for holidays. With Valentine’s Day the next holiday slated on the calendar, the sisters determined that they wanted to do a donation drive to benefit the military.

“They miss being at home and so we wanted to send something kind of from home, a taste from home, so they can feel like they are at home,” Olivia Golembiewski said.

Last year the sisters were able to help Operation Troop Aid send about 200 care packages and obtained more than 250 letters from children, according to Brenda Golembiewski. She said that between the drive and their efforts to encourage business to donate, the sisters got more than 3,200 boxes of cookies donated.

This year the drive will assist Disabled American Veterans, replacing the phone cards for troops aspect according to Brenda Golembiewski. She said that clothing and small household goods will be accepted as Disabled American Veterans donations, which will go towards the organization’s thrift stores.

“I wanted to send more than just Girl Scout Cookies, and Disabled American Veterans need our help too,” Olivia Golembiewski said.

The 2015 Valentines 4-R Troops drive will continue the prior tradition of collecting $5 Walmart gift cards to assist troops through Operation Troop Aid, Brenda Golembiewski said. The goal is to obtain a minimum of 100 cards, according to Brenda Golembiewski. This year’s drive will also include the children’s letter writing campaign.

Olivia and Jade Golembiewski will be seeking Girl Scout Cookie donations for troops during this year’s drive as well, Brenda Golembiewski said. Boxes cost $4 each, she noted.

This year, the goal is to get 3,500 boxes donated to troops, Olivia Golembiewski said. She said she plans to spend her winter breaks and weekends seeking support from local business owners.

To donate Girl Scout Cookies to troops through the Golembiewskis prior to the drive, mail a check payable to GSSEM Troop 30318 to P.O. Box No. 254, 51194 Romeo Plank Road, Macomb, MI 48042.