Cookie season arrives in the Bluegrass
Published 6:00 am Friday, February 11, 2022
Cases of Girl Scout Cookies sit in a warehouse in Lexington as the 2022 cookie season begins. The cookies arrived last week, and nearly half a million boxes of cookies made up the initial order. - Photo courtesy of GSKWR
Girl Scout parents load cases of cookies into their vehicles as the 2022 cookie season begins. - Photo courtesy of GSKWR
It’s cookie time in the Bluegrass!
The annual Girl Scouts of Kentucky Wilderness Road 2022 cookie season kicked off recently with the arrival of nearly a half million boxes. That was the initial delivery, according to Haleigh McGraw, communications and brand director for GSKWR.
“For our initial order this week we are kicking off with 448,572 boxes of cookies across our service area. This is only the first delivery of the year, so we expect to see this number increase quite a bit through the end of March,” McGraw said.
Last year’s cookie sale saw more than 1 million boxes sold in 66 Kentucky counties and one Ohio county. McGraw said 1,091,688 boxes were sold in 2021 despite the challenges of COVID-19.
“COVID-19 has impacted our organization, but sparked innovation in Girl Scouts,” McGraw explained. “In 2020 when the pandemic hit, we experienced a decline in sales. In 2021, the girls quickly navigated the unexpected changes of COVID-19 by introducing the Digital Cookie platform and direct, contactless delivery. 2022 is off to a phenomenal start with an initial increase in orders by 27% and with the continued use of the Digital Cookie platform and direct delivery. We will also still hold cookie booths that will follow local, state and CDC safety protocols. We are all looking forward to the big cookie season ahead!”
For anyone wanting Girl Scout Cookies but who cannot make it to a cookie booth, the Digital Cookie platform is open again this year. McGraw said customers can visit the site at www.gskentucky.org/findcookies and search for cookies by zip code. This will show booths, Girl Scouts, and Troops near customers to order from and receive cookies through Girl delivery or direct shipment to the customer’s door.
Another option this year for customers in the Lexington, Erlanger, and Ashland areas is Doordash. McGraw said GSKWR is partnering with the food delivery service for Friday and Saturday evening deliveries in select areas.
For long-time Girl Scout Cookie fans, there will be some new flavors added, while one flavor will no longer be offered. McGraw said this will be the first year without the Thanks-A-Lot cookie, which was a shortbread and chocolate cookie. There is a new cookie being offered, and it’s called Adventurefuls. The new cookie is a brownie-inspired caramel-flavored crème and has a hint of sea salt.
Revenue from the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays local and supports the adventures and learning opportunities for Kentucky girls.
Through the annual Girl Scout Cookie Financial Literacy Program, Kentucky girls can earn the new Cookie Business Badges to help them practice and develop entrepreneurship skills and learn important online and offline business skills that set them up for success in life.
All proceeds from cookie sales are truly girl-focused, with 19% going toward camp programs and properties, 19% toward troop proceeds and rewards, and 33% toward membership, volunteer development, and program support. Girl Scout Cookie sales represent over 80% of GSKWR’s annual operating budget, supporting the vital programming that leaves a lifelong impact on Kentucky’s future female leaders.
