LOUISVILLE - A Louisville Girl Scout troop that was given a counterfeit $50 bill for cookies has received donations from local businesses and support from across the county.

Police were called Feb. 28 to the Albertsons store at 910 W. Cherry St. after a parent assisting a Girl Scout cookie sale realized that she had been given phony money by a man who bought $9.75 worth of Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Do-Si-Dos.

The suspect - a white man in his 20s or 30s, and about 5-foot-10 - escaped with $40.25 in change.

The story made the rounds on national news wires, prompting support from Louisville businesses as well as strangers. Albertsons covered the money that the girls lost, and at least eight other businesses offered to help, said parent Catherine Prior, who reported the fake bill.

"It's been nice," she said. "We aren't going to be stuck with (the loss), which is good because the girls work hard and the idea is to raise money."