Girl Scouts to sell cookies online during pandemic
Have a late-night craving for Girl Scout Thin Mints or S’mores, go to GrubHub.
It’s that time of year! Girl Scout cookies! But don’t look for the girls at Kroger because they’re not going.
Like pizza and groceries, the Girl Scouts have gone contactless in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and that will be, in the long run, easier on the girls, leaders say.
Madison countians who don’t know or see a Girl Scout over the next few months can still purchase cookies online for direct shipment.
Caroline is a 5th grader at Luther Branson Elementary School near Farmhaven east of Canton in rural Madison County.
“I am looking forward to interacting with people during Girl Scout Cookie time and earning badges for my Junior Vest,” Caroline said in a statement provided by the Girl Scouts at the Journal’s request. “I’m excited since I have been so restricted during the pandemic.”
Beginning Feb. 1, a zip code can be entered into the Girl Scout Cookie Finder at www.gsgms.org to purchase from a local Girl Scout troop online for direct shipment. Cookies can also be donated to first responders and local causes.
Cookie sales have taught girls a lot about business for decades. Door-to-door sales, tables in parking lots and at student unions have been the hallmark — are profitable experiences.
Jennifer Rothert of Petal, head of the cookie program in Mississippi, said the girls are still moving forward and planning to be out and about as much as possible while following proper protocols.
She said one of the challenges will be the lower amount of foot traffic.
“We hope people take advantage of the pop-up booths and online cookie sales,” Rothert said. “A lot of people usually just drive by the booths, so we hope that this time around, people will use them.”
On the one hand the pandemic is making things easier, she said.
“The girls will also have an easier time since doing this online requires a lot less work compared to the tables and props they set up in front of stores.”
Becky Traweek, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi, said she’s proud of the Girl Scouts for running their cookie business safely and using their earnings to make the world a better place.
“This season, our girls will continue to exemplify what the cookie program has taught them, which is how to think like entrepreneurs, use innovative sales tactics, and pivot to new ways of doing business when things don’t go according to plan,” she said.
Traweek said the cookie program is what keeps Girl Scouts thriving in communities across the country and is proven to build girls’ leadership skills and help them become successful in life.
The Girl Scouts are grateful to Grubhub for waiving all fees for the organization to make this new delivery option possible for sales without reducing the proceeds of the troops and council.
Along with this, Grubhub is offering free delivery on Girl Scout Cookie orders placed through Feb. 14 with a minimum purchase of $15.
Girl Scout Cookie season is recognized nationally from January through April, but since local timing and the availability of products varies, consumers should contact their local council for more information.
Visit www.girlscoutcookes.org, text COOKIES to 59618, or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app free on Android or iOS devices to find socially distant and contact-free cookie booths.
For more info on how to purchase cookies virtually, visit www.grubhub.com/food/girl_scouts to find out when contact-free delivery from Grubhub is available in the Madison County area.