Girl Scouts of Central & Western Mass donated approximately 3,500 boxes of Gril Scout cookies to the 104th Fighter Wing and USO Published May 2, 2015 BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass -- Members of the Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts donated 3,500 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard base, and USO, as part of Project Care & Share. The Girl Scouts will visit the base to learn more about the Wing on Friday, May 1, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. The Girl Scouts have been donating Girl Scout cookies to the 104th Fighter Wing since 2012. "Project Care & Share, teaches the girls about giving, helping others, while also learning other important life skills," said Capt. Katie Gauvin, Logistics Readiness Officer at the 104th Fighter Wing, and leader of local Cadet Troop 40067. "The girls sell cookies to customers, specifically to be donated to military members and their families. The girls take great pride in this donation, as a show of support." During the girl's visit to Barnes, there will be an overview of the Air National Guard, Barnes Air National Guard Base and the F-15 Eagle. They will have the opportunity to talk with members of the 104th Fighter Wing, some who were Girl Scouts, too. "We greatly appreciate the tremendous efforts by these girls," said Maj. Mary Harrington, Public Affairs officer, and former Girl Scout. "The cookies are a great morale booster for our members and their families. Also, the visit gives our female members, who were previously Girl Scouts in their childhoods, a chance to connect with the next generation and serve as role models." The 104th Fighter Wing is equipped with the F-15 Eagle. One mission of the 104th is Aerospace Control Alert (ACA), providing armed fighters ready to scramble in a moment's notice to protect the Northeast from any airborne threat. The unit is responsible for protecting a quarter of the nation's population and one third of the Gross Domestic Product.