Troop speaks out against body shaming
For a Journey project, Troop 1797 shares the challenges, life skills gained this cookie season
As part of a Girl Scout Journey project, the Daniel Boone Senior Girl Scout Troop 1797 shared a positive message of all they have gained from their cookie sale experiences and spoke out against body shaming from customers.
While 90% of customers are friendly and happy to see Girl Scouts out in the community selling cookies, not everyone is so kind.
At a local grocery store cookie booth recently, the senior troop asked a customer if he would like to buy a box of Girl Scout cookies, and received the response, “You keep eating those cookies and your cheeks will get fat.”
“My high school girls were filled with emotion, yet kept composure and told him to ‘have a nice day.’ This was the turning point and they decided to self-advocate and take a stand,” said Cory Derer, Daniel Boone Girl Scout troop leader and service unit co-manager.
The troop decided that sharing their cookie experiences with the community would be a great way to make a difference as a Girl Scout Journey project, which entails multi-session experiences and using the skills they gain along the way to make a difference in their community.
“I hope they can come away from this experience knowing that they can do hard things, and that they can stand up for something that they’re passionate about,” said Derer. “I want them to know that even though they are young, they can make a big change.”
A Girl Scout family
The seven troop members have been together since they were Daisies.
“Our troop has been selling cookies for the past 11 seasons, starting in kindergarten. I can remember many of us being so shy and so quiet, not wanting to ask potential customers if they wanted to buy cookies,” said troop member Olivia Darrohn. “Now we’re in 10th grade, and many of us are super sellers, selling 500 or 1,000 boxes each season. We have learned you can’t get a sale unless you ask.”
Over the years, they created a strong bond even though most have gone in different directions with school, sports, school activities, jobs and friends outside of Girl Scouts.
“When it comes to our troop and service unit, we are the best of friends, we are a community, we are a family, and nothing can ever change that. Sometimes we come across things that affect one of us, but no matter who it affects, it affects all of us because we are a troop, a family and a community,” said troop member Abbey Decker.
Challenges
“Cookie season this year has been rough for lots of Girl Scouts, including myself, because of the cookie shortage, the aggressiveness and negative responses from many people and customers, and the stereotyping. There has been a reduced inventory of cookies this season, and it is frustrating to work with, but we are pushing through the backlash and repercussions,” said troop member Giana Stoltzfus.
Also, the new cookie, Raspberry Rally, is only available online.
“The feedback from customers about the online-only option, with a hefty shipping cost, is not ideal. The girls are getting a lot of pushback about it,” said Derer.
Cookie sales are also suffering from supply and delivery issues, the rising cost of ingredients and staffing issues.
“My mom is our troop’s cookie manager, so I see the difficulty she has been having working with our council (who in turn works with our baker) to make sure our
troop has enough cases of cookies to get us through to the end of the sale in midMarch,” said Darrohn. “It all starts with the baker having a hard time getting their supplies to bake the cookies; then that trickles down to us having difficulty getting the right quantity of cookies we want and need. And this is happening across the country!”
Another challenge is being ignored.
“We are not invisible; we are hard-working girls, standing in the cold, trying to earn our own way,” said Myah Derer, Cory Derer’s daughter.
She suggests a polite “no thanks” instead.
“Our community as a whole could spread more positivity,” the younger Derer said. “We live in a world with judgment and negativity. Now more than ever, positivity is a necessity.”
Donna Elgonitis, a registered Girl Scout parent, hopes the girls learn to be more assertive and be more outspoken, as well as confident in their abilities.
“We try to teach our children to be honest and truthful in all they do. The response of negative comments from their customers hurts them and teaches them that loyalty and little white lies are okay,” she said. “Customers think that if they scurry by and do not look at the girls or even say hello, it’s okay, and it’s not.”
Elgonitis said the girls need to hear things like “Sorry girls, not today, but good luck with your sales” or “What are your plans for the money you earn?”
“Engaging the girls in conversation helps them to develop and build their thoughts, speaking abilities, and interactions with other people (people they might never have said a word to). If nothing else, make eye contact with the girls, smile and tell them to have a nice day,” she said.
For those who are not able to eat cookies but still want to support the Girl Scouts, troop member Caitlyn Dillon suggested making a donation.
“The cookie program offers donation options for Girl Scouts to have the opportunity to learn philanthropy and community service. Our service unit participates in the Hometown Heroes program, where all of our donations go toward cookies for local heroes,” Dillon said.
Troop 1797 donates to the local American Legion Post 626.
“It only seems right to donate cookies to them,” she added.
“There are also many struggles with us older girls getting sales, because people always comment on how they want the younger Girl Scouts and ask ‘where’s the cute Girl Scouts? I want to buy cookies from them!’ Just because we aren’t young anymore doesn’t mean cookie season does not benefit us,” said Stoltzfus. “We are all Girl Scouts, no matter our age.”
Another prominent problem is body shaming.
“When it comes to our troop and service unit, we are the best of friends, we are a community, we are a family, and nothing can ever change that. Sometimes we come across things that affect one of us, but no matter who it affects, it affects all of us because we are a troop, a family and a community,”
— Troop member Abbey Decker
“In my experience, many people use body shaming as a way to avoid spending money on cookies. They say things like ‘oh, cookies make you fat’ while rubbing their stomachs, and ‘there are too many calories in those cookies.’ Saying things like this to young Girl Scouts, and even older Girl Scouts, can give them a negative view on food and their own body image,” Stoltzfus said.
Her advice for the community is to be kind to local Girl Scouts.
Much to Gain
Overall, the Daniel Boone Troop wants the community to know what cookie sales do for them and the skills they learn from participating.
“The Girl Scout cookie sale is more than just selling cookies; it’s about young women and girls learning how to run a business and become successful leaders and entrepreneurs,” Stoltzfus said. “All Girl Scouts, younger and older, sell cookies to benefit themselves, their troops, and their service units as a whole, as well as the entire Girl Scout program.”
Stoltzfus hopes to gain more business experience and learn more about pushing through hardships to meet a goal.
For Darrohn, the cookie season has given her confidence in knowing how to approach a potential customer and answering questions about the cookies.
“This is our business, my troop’s business,” said Olivia. “We have learned how to set goals for ourselves, how to budget for trips we want to take and how to utilize profits for helping our community.”
“Cookie sales have definitely taught me skills that I wouldn’t have learned anywhere else. I even used my cookie-selling skills to get my first job. I wasn’t afraid to interview, or use a cash register, because I had already been set up for success by Girl Scouts,” said Myah Derer.
The biggest fundraiser for Girl Scouts all over the country, Scouts use the profits from cookie sales to pay
their own way in the program. Some of the money also goes toward badge programs like spending the night in the Reading Museum for S.T.E.A.M. programs and going rock climbing, said Myah Derer.
“Fundraising has broadened our horizons and opened so many doors,” said Myah Derer. “The cookie sales directly benefit me, my troop mates and the community by helping us to earn money to do fun activities like camping, run programs for younger girls and pay for community service projects like our garden. It relieves some of the financial stress that these activities cause my family.”
They learn money management, entrepreneurship, customer service skills, how to talk to adults, how to overcome rejection, work as a team, how to network with local businesses, how to set goals and how to use technology.
“We have learned to be more resourceful, keeping up with technology. I even added a QR code to door hangers so people can order directly from my online cookie page,” said Myah, who manages all her orders on her phone.
Troop member Emma Elgonitis hopes to build confidence, social skills and leadership skills.
“I gain skills that I can use in the future to better my work ethic. I also learn how to save money. My Girl Scout troop and I have fundraised money to do many different things and travel to many different places. Right now, we are saving to visit Europe and explore the world and its rich history while also having fun,” Elgonitis said.
The Daniel Boone troop will use cookie profits, as well as profits from craft shows and bake sales, to fund a 10-day trip to Europe their senior year of high school, visiting London, Paris and the Alps.
“We are all so excited!” said troop member Melanie Kane. “I love when people ask me what my goal is or what am I selling cookies
for.”
Kane also hopes to gain knowledge on different businesses skills that she can use and take with her throughout her whole life.
“Cookie sales let me set goals and earn money to reach them,” she said.
Public Comments
Troop members also interviewed a few community members to get their perspective.
“Being a locally-family run business, we at Italian Delite always look forward to being involved with our community,” Maria Satiro of Douglassville, owner of Italian Delite in Birdsboro, said in a statement. “The Girl Scouts were a joy to have! My customers and I were happy to have them at our location.”
Satiro said the Girl Scouts showed confidence as they engaged with patrons.
“We support the development of confidence, leadership skills and opportunities for young ladies,” said Satiro. “We look forward to supporting and working again with our local Girls Scouts.”
Daniel Boone Primary Center kindergarten teacher Michele Myers also offered a few comments while buying cookies at Boyer’s Food Market.
“When I see Girl Scouts selling cookies, I am impressed with their entrepreneurial spirit. I love that girls of all ages are working hard to contribute financially to support the activities
and programs of their troops,” said Myers. “I am so impressed and excited when I see a girl I knew as a kindergartener sticking with the Scouting program into high school. That says a lot about the character of that girl. She has made a commitment and kept that promise.”
Selling cookies is just one example of an activity which involves many different kinds of learning. Salesmanship, managing inventory (including digital sales) and maintaining a cheerful and polite disposition, whatever the response of the customers, are all important life lessons, said Myers.
“They build confidence, build a friend group which encourages and supports healthy choices, experience outdoor activities and even make networking connections which may guide their educational or professional choices as young adults,” she said.
Making COVID masks, cleaning local parks and playgrounds, planting flowers, serving snacks at trunk or treat and Fall Fest, and participating in local church services are just a few of the activities she has observed.
“As a teacher who chooses to live in the district in which I work, it is so wonderful to see girls and young women who are making the same commitment where we live,” said Myers.
“I am so proud whenever I see the Scouts in our community working hard to contribute positively.”