RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Girl Scout cookies have arrived in Richmond to be delivered to those who have purchased boxes, as well as to be sold at booths located outside stores.
On Saturday, Feb. 17, Girl Scout cookies landed at The Diamond stadium, with dozens of volunteers handing out boxes of the infamous treats to Girl Scout parents and fellow scouts who sold cookies that will now be delivered to those who have placed orders.
The Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s CEO, Molly Fuller, said about a million boxes of cookies arrived into town for the cookie pick-up. Boxes of cookies were loaded into cars for scouts to deliver.
“What’s so exciting about the cookie program is that it gives girls an opportunity to fuel amazing experiences in Girl Scouts,” Fuller said.
The cookie program allows Girl Scouts to learn five essential skills — goal setting, money management, decision making, people skills and business ethics. The proceeds go towards funds for international travel and ways to give back to the community.
Fellow Girl Scout Caroline has been a scout for eight years and said her favorite things to do as part of the troop are cookie season, badge work and being involved in the community. She said the Girl Scouts give her the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people, especially during cookie season.
“Cookie season is really cool because it teaches me and other girl scouts to get out of our comfort zones, and just put in that extra mile to sell and reach our goal,” Caroline said.
Caroline said last year she sold 2,000 boxes of cookies and would not have been able to do that if she had not stepped out of her comfort zone and talked to people.
“I was a very nervous, shy kid, and so Girl Scouts and the cookies really helped me build my confidence and get out of that,” Caroline said, “and meeting new people is really great too.”
When Caroline was a junior and cadette Girl Scout she worked to earn her “secret agent” badge. She learned how to take DNA from strawberries and fingerprints, as well as talk to a forensic scientist. When earning this badge, she was able to decide what she wants to be when she grows up.
“That badge really stuck with me through today, because that is what I want [to do],” Caroline said. “I want to be a forensic scientist when I’m an adult, and that’s what I want to major in college.”
After the event, the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia will now set up cookie booths outside of stores. To find booths selling cookies, use the Girl Scout Cookie Finder.