Eudora Girl Scout Troop #02951 is excited to sell cookies in person around the county after online ordering took over during the pandemic.
This troop and others in Douglas County are preparing to launch cookie booths all across town. The booths will be set up outside a handful of local businesses where you will be able to purchase all of your favorite Girl Scout cookies.
The troop started selling cookies online and around their neighborhoods a few months ago.
“We had a really successful year with sales last year, mostly online. This year we have sold way far and above that, and so we are excited to see what cookie booths can do,” troop leader Laura Lewis said.
This year, the troop has already sold around 1,500 boxes. Lewis hopes the booths will help to continue the trend.
“We are so excited. We set a troop goal, and I think we’re going to exceed it,” she said.
Lewis’ troop has been preparing to run the booths by learning how to handle money and make a sales pitch, among other things, at their regular meetings. Second grader Hadley Lewis, a member of Troop #02951 and the troop leader’s daughter, said she loves learning these new skills.
“I like it because it’s really fun. I get to enjoy with my friends, and it’s kind of like a refresher so you can, like, you can be ready for doing your job in the future,” she said.
Second grader and member of Troop #02951 Mae Broers said selling cookies is her favorite part about being a Girl Scout.
“It teaches me to be kind to people,” she said.
Lewis said handling money and making sales pitches are only a few of the important things that Girl Scouts teaches.
“They’re learning STEM. They’re learning how to be good citizens and give service back to our community,” Lewis said.
She said it is important for people to support their local troops so Girl Scouts can keep teaching these girls valuable life skills, and also so they can continue to do educational activities like camping.
“A lot of the money from the sales goes back to our local troop, and that helps them to do things like camping and give donations, buy supplies and really be leaders,” Lewis said. “So we encourage everyone to come buy cookies. It’s a great way to support your local troop.”
Lewis said Girl Scouts have a long tradition in most communities, having been around for over 100 years, and it is important to keep that tradition alive.
“I was a Girl Scout when I was young. A lot of our parents were Girl Scouts, and this program has such longevity because of how much it does for our girls and our communities,” she said. “They’re the future leaders of our communities, of our schools, of our companies.”
The cookie booths are not the only thing to look forward to, however. There is also a new cookie this year called the “Aventureful,” which is a favorite amongst the troop.
“They are toffee and caramel with sea salt, and so we have those and they’re pretty popular, but also all the classics – the Thin Mints, the Peanut Butter Patties, the Shortbreads,” Lewis said.
Her troop will host booths at Gene’s Heartland Foods in Eudora and Checker’s Grocery Store in Lawrence starting Feb. 26, but you will be able to find booths all across Douglas County being hosted by other local troops as well.
Reach reporter Alyssa Wingo at [email protected].
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