Girl Scout cookies donated to teachers
Girl Scout cookies are one of spring’s greatest creations, and not just because Thin Mints are so darn addicting.
Buying a box of the sweet treats helps fund the many adventures and confidencebuilding experiences for girls offered by Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania.
Social distancing measures put in place during the pandemic restricted many local troops’ access to booth sales in front of grocery stores and shopping plazas during this year’s annual Girl Scout Cookie Program, which ended on April 30.
While scouts faced the challenge with some creative marketing — customers in Pittsburgh, Johnstown, and Greensburg were able to order cookies through Grubhub for delivery right to their door — cookie sales were down this year. Enter Giant Eagle, where many Girl
Scouts have set up booths in past years.
To help boost the bottom line and support girls’ success, the supermarket has purchased $25,000 worth of Trefoils, Samoas and other cookies. They’re sharing them with a group of individuals who have faced their own set of problems this year: school teachers.
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, the GetGo Cafe and Market chain of convenience stores is partnering with The Education Partnership to distribute 5,000 boxes of cookies to educators throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. The nonprofit will arrange for individual schools to pick up the cookie boxes and hand them out to teachers. Among those on board are Penn Hills Elementary School and Chartiers Early Childhood Center.
Nearly $1.7 million from local cookie sales will go into troop treasuries to fuel girls’ experiences in Girl Scouts throughout the coming year, according to marketing manager Stefanie Marshall. More than 10,800 Girl Scouts in Western Pennsylvania took part in the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program.
“This donation from GetGo allows GSWPA to continue providing lifechanging opportunities to local girls,” CEO Patricia Burkart said in a release. “Our entire council of Girl Scouts and volunteers will benefit from the generosity of GetGo, and we are sincerely grateful.”
“Recognizing teachers for their extraordinary work this school year, and every year, is something we are always thrilled to support,” said Josh Whiteside, executive director of The Education Partnership
Established in 2009, The Education Partnership has distributed more than $17 million worth of school supplies to well over 100,000 students and teachers in 157 low- income schools in the region.