A new app is making it possible to order Girl Scout cookies online as COVID-19 dramatically affects the sale of the popular sweet treats.
Sandy Helling is the fund development specialist at the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia’s Augusta branch. She said the pandemic has decreased the number of girls who are willing to go out in public to sell cookies at pop-up sites. More dependent on online sales, the organization introduced an app for that this year.
“There are a limited number of booth sales,” Helling said. She also said that in-person sales are much lower than previous years. “There are a lot more online cookie orders, so those numbers are up.”
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Online ordering tends to limit sales to customers the scouts know. To offset that, the organization implemented a free app this year, called Girl Scout Cookie Finder, available for Apple and Android phones. After a zip code is entered into the app, and customers are directed to pop-up sites. It also directs customers on how to order cookies online through a local troop.
A national partnership with the food delivery company GrubHub allows customers to order the cookies and have them delivered to their homes.
Helling said 2021 cookie sale proceeds, used to fund programming and leadership opportunities, are projected to be down even more compared to previous years. More than just a fundraiser, the sales teach skills valuable to entrepreneurship. Cookie sales provide five important business skills: goal-setting, business ethics, money management, decision making and people skills. The proceeds from the area assist scouts locally, according to Helling.
“We are doing everything we can to keep our customers and our girls safe while trying to promote every opportunity we can to get our customers the cookies,” Helling said.
Chef Frank of Edgar’s Grille, located off Washington Road, is working with the local troops to raise awareness of this year’s cookie season and to help promote sales. The bistro’s dessert menu includes Girl Scout Cookie-based creations. In addition to featuring the cookies in handmade desserts, Frank is distributing informational sheets that let customers know where they can purchase the cookies.
The Girl Scouts began selling cookies in 1917. This year’s sales include eight flavors ranging from $4 to $6 a box.
Shellie Smitley is a staff writer for the The Augusta Press. Reach her at shellie@theaugustapress.com
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