First Ever Girl Scout Troop Formed for Homeless Children Just Sold Over 30K Boxes of Cookies
The Girls Scouts were a huge part of my childhood. I joined as a Brownie, the level for girls in 2nd or 3rd grade, and stayed in the program until I was an Ambassador, or graduated high school.
The Girl Scout Law is still ingrained in my mind, “I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.”
This program helped prepare me for my adult life by helping me develop skills of leadership, kindness, and even basic survival skills. Yes, we went camping quite often, but we also learned basic car maintenance, visited historical museums I would’ve never gone to otherwise, and even toured college campuses together.
I know I’m a better person because of my time in this organization and because of that, I always buy those delicious cookies that come every winter. If my $4 purchase can help give girls the same opportunity that I had growing up, then I consider that $4 well spent.
Many people in New York showed that they also know the value in buying those addicting baked goods when they help Troop 6000 more than exceed their cookie business goals.
Troop 6000 in New York City is a unique troop made up entirely of girls who are homeless and living in shelters. The troop was formed in 2016 in a motel that serves 100 homeless families. Mayor de Blasio, the Department of Homeless Services, and the Girl Scouts of Greater New York hoped that Troop 6000 could be a resource for the children in the city’s shelter system.
Hailey, a teenage member of the troop, said, “We’re starting a chain reaction. Hopefully, in the next couple years, there will be more Girl Scout troops in shelters.”
The fees associated with membership are being covered by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York. There are about 300 girls currently enrolled.
When cookie selling season came around Troop 6000, like any other troop, began to come up with a plan. It would be the troop’s first year to participate.
The profits from cookie sales help fund trips and activities for the troop and the individual girls. According to the Girl Scout website, it also gives the girls opportunities to learn “five skills essential to leadership, success, and life.” These five skills are “goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.”
They received permission to set up a booth in the Kellogg’s Cafe in Union Square for one week. Their goal? To sell at least 6000 boxes of cookies.
The number of people that showed up to support this amazing troop quickly showed leaders that their goal would be more than met. Some people waited in line for over an hour! Others just donated directly to the troop. The monetary donations totaled over $15,000.
Kellogg’s Cafe also created special menu items based on the flavors found in Girl Scout Cookies for the troop. The proceeds were then donated back to the troop.
At the end of their six-day business, the troop had sold over 30,000 boxes of cookies! More than 5 times the amount they had originally set out to sell.
Sanaa, a 10-year-old troop member, said, “I’m so excited that I got a chance to sell cookies, just like any other Girl Scout!”
Troop 6000 is giving its girls opportunities that they may not have otherwise had and the money raised from their sale will enable them to do even more. The skills that those girls will learn and the experiences they will get to have will better prepare them for the future just like they did for me.
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