CLEVELAND — Adapting and overcoming is what the Girl Scouts do best, so last March, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to institute a stay-at-home order, it didn’t take long for girl scout ingenuity to kick in.
Just days before COVID-19 induced the stay-at-home order given by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Girl Scout troops across Northeast Ohio received their cookie orders and were preparing for their booth sales.
But once the stay-at-home order went into place, Girl Scouts were left with nearly $3 million worth of cookies and no place to sell them.
Thinking quickly, they turned to social media and asked people to purchase the cookies, but with a catch.
They asked people to buy cookies and then in turn the Girl Scouts would donate them to frontline health workers, first responders and the military.
When they were done, they had donated more than 160,000 boxes of cookies.
“I always tell all of them, that this is a really difficult time for anybody who’s in charge of an organization and working forward," said Jane Christyson, CEO Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. “But my inspiration is really those girls and our wonderful volunteers who woke up every day and said ‘How can I wake up and make the world a better place?’”
This year, they’re going digital again.
Utilizing the digital cookie mobile app, you can browse the personalized cookie website and find a Girl Scout who is selling cookies.
“The girls have an opportunity to build a digital storefront. That’s a great way for them to understand and learn about the digital economy,” Christyson said.
Cookies will be delivered in March for free, but if you can’t wait, you can pay extra for shipping and have them in a few days.
If you don’t want to use the app, you can dial 1-888-9-THIN-MINT. They will connect you with a girl scout who can sell you cookies.
While many people in Northeast Ohio were expecting a new cookie flavor, Christyson also cautioned that wouldn’t be the case this year.
There are two bakers that the Girl Scouts use for their cookies. Little Brownie Baker, the bakery that the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio utilize won’t have a new cookie this year.
But Christyson said you can expect a new cookie next year.
