She bought 1,008 boxes of Girl Scout cookies
Elizabeth Bartz loves Girl Scout cookies. But not necessarily to eat them (although she said her favorite kind are Thin Mints). Instead, her aim is to help both Girl Scouts and the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Akron.
So, Bartz, who is owner and CEO of State and Federal Communications, has ordered at least 1,008 boxes worth of sweet assistance during the annual cookie campaign.
Bartz said this is the fourth year she has purchased multiple boxes of cookies from Girl Scouts from Ohio, Virginia and other states. Last year, she said, she purchased Girl Scout cookies to Scouts in five states.
“I had the opportunity to meet with Jane Christyson (the CEO of Girl Scouts North East Ohio),” she said. “I asked what I can do to really help Scouts. I just started buying cookies.”
Christyson said she appreciates Bartz’s gesture.
“Elizabeth’s generosity is extraordinary,” Christyson said. “Not only does she support our cookie entrepreneurs in reaching their goals to fund their Girl Scout experiences and public service, but then she donates the cookies to deserving nonprofits so that many will experience the joy of Girl Scout cookies.”
Bartz was recently named as one of the 2023 Women of Distinction by Girl Scouts of North East Ohio for her support of the organization.
Bartz donates all of the boxes she purchases to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, where she is a lifelong member. The church then distributes the sweet treats to those who come to pick up food donations as part of its Good Samaritans program.
The Rev. Dean Kokanos from Annunciation said the church’s Good Samaritan program includes a food pantry and a soup kitchen.
“We are grateful for the generous support of parishioners like Elizabeth Bartz,” Kokanos said. “These resources allow our church to offer hot meals and groceries to our neighbors in Akron on a regular basis.”
Bartz said that she has fine-tuned her cookie-ordering system, which includes a spreadsheet of whom she has bought cookies from, what type of cookies (there are 10 varieties to choose from this year), and when they have been received.
Another change Bartz has made after the first year is where she has all of those boxes delivered. The first year, she explained, she had them shipped or delivered to her West Akron home.
That led to a problem.
“My husband would grab a box of Tagalongs (chocolate and peanut butter cookies) once in a while,” said Bartz, who also has a residence in Washington D.C.
Now, she has them delivered to her office before they are sent to the church, Bartz said.
Bartz said that she, too, was in Girl Scouts and sold the ubiquitous treats.
“I sold them when cookies were only 75 cents a box,” said Bartz, who is now 64. “And I sold them to people in my neighborhood.”
As of now, Bartz said she has only advertised her hunt for Girl Scout cookies through Facebook.
“I get miles of of Scout parents saying ‘here, here is a link to my daughter’s site,’ ‘here’s a link to my niece’s site,’” she said. “I just like helping Scouts. This is a way where they can be proud of what they do.”
Christyson said that she not only admired Bartz’s generosity, but her will power.
“Think of being surrounded by all those cookies, and then giving them away,” Christyson said.
Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com