The girls in the troop live in a homeless emergency shelter known as Micah House.
“You can really tell when they have their sash or vest on, there is a sense of pride and part of something that is so respected,” said Beth Shelton, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa. “That’s always sacred and important to children, but I think especially during this pandemic.”
They also achieved a different goal of selling to customers in all 50 states, and Washington, DC, Kayla Terrillion, a children’s program specialist at Micah House, told CNN.
Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, no challenge has proved too big for the troop. In fact, the push to online sales is a boon to the troop. Terrillion said moving sales mainly online because of the virus contributed to the disclosure of cookie sales. Community members – and beyond – have been able to order cookies online and pick them up or have them delivered, helping Troop 64224 achieve its goal of selling cookies nationwide.
“Having everything on social media this year is completely different, especially for the girls,” Terrillion said with Micah House.
The flock size fluctuates depending on the number of families living in the shelter. The young girls, ages five to eight, are not only excited about being girl scouts, but exceeding their goals is something the troop is proud of.
These scouts are described as not only enthusiastic, but also enterprising. With about a month to go into cookie season, this junk will continue to sell.
“Like all savvy business women, they will review and reassess those goals,” Shelton said. “They figured it out.”
Micah House’s Girl Scout troop started in 2018. About 30% of girls are part of the free or discounted lunch program. Despite all the financial hardships girls living there are getting, they get a free Girl Scout membership, Shelton said. The money from their cookie sales stays local and goes to activities for the explorers, such as excursions.