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Girl Scout sells record number of cookies
Categories: Teens & tweens, Money & Work, In The News, Weird But True
Sadly, Girl Scout cookie season has come and gone this year. As usual, we blew through our cookie purchases in no time at all. Do-Si-Dos, Samoas and Tagalongs -- all gone. Even the Thin Mints I stashed behind the veggies in the freezer have long since been devoured. But I'll bet there are some lucky people in Dearborn, Michigan with a few boxes still in the pantry. Those folks had the good fortune to be in 15-year-old Jennifer Sharpe's territory and she is a cookie selling machine!
This year, Sharpe sold an incredible 17,328 boxes of everyone's favorite cookies and in doing so, likely broke a Girl Scout record. A spokesman for the organization says they don't actually know what the national record is for cookie sales, but agrees that Sharpe did an "amazing" job.
An accomplishment like that requires help, and Sharpe had plenty of it in her troop-leader and mother, Pam. The pair set up shop on a street corner and business boomed. "We were always there; we never closed," Pam Sharpe said. "At one point, Jenny got really sick, and we did shut down early, and we heard about it the next day."
All told, Jennifer's Troop 813 raised about $21,000 from cookie sales -- enough to pay for their 10-day-trip to Europe later this year. But Jennifer's mom says the real reward is in the positive effect cookie selling has had on her daughter. "It's made her really confident," she said. "I remember when she first started selling, she was very shy and quiet, and you had to push her out to talk to customers, but now she's right out there, first to the door."
That is a truly awesome accomplishment and Jennifer deserves all the attention she's getting for this. But I would like to ask the good people of Dearborn a question: Did you eat all those cookies already? If not, let's talk.
This year, Sharpe sold an incredible 17,328 boxes of everyone's favorite cookies and in doing so, likely broke a Girl Scout record. A spokesman for the organization says they don't actually know what the national record is for cookie sales, but agrees that Sharpe did an "amazing" job.
An accomplishment like that requires help, and Sharpe had plenty of it in her troop-leader and mother, Pam. The pair set up shop on a street corner and business boomed. "We were always there; we never closed," Pam Sharpe said. "At one point, Jenny got really sick, and we did shut down early, and we heard about it the next day."
All told, Jennifer's Troop 813 raised about $21,000 from cookie sales -- enough to pay for their 10-day-trip to Europe later this year. But Jennifer's mom says the real reward is in the positive effect cookie selling has had on her daughter. "It's made her really confident," she said. "I remember when she first started selling, she was very shy and quiet, and you had to push her out to talk to customers, but now she's right out there, first to the door."
That is a truly awesome accomplishment and Jennifer deserves all the attention she's getting for this. But I would like to ask the good people of Dearborn a question: Did you eat all those cookies already? If not, let's talk.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Heather 5-15-2008 @ 4:59PM
I always enjoy hearing about girl or boy scouts stepping it up and doing their part! My husband has been a cub scout leader for the last 5 years and it is like pulling teeth to get the kids/parents to sell anything. We DEFINATELY need more kids like this!! (Maybe next year our little tiger scout will kick butt!!)
Reply
Pat Cravins 5-16-2008 @ 6:30AM
I totally disagree, with total respect for the organization, I think the receipe must have changed. My husband bought several boxes from our neighbor and after trying to figure out what was wrong with the cookies, I threw some boxes away. One fo my students, several days later told me her mother had noticed the same thing. We did a taste test with a box I had in my classroom and the students also agreed. These cookies used to melt in your mouth now they must be washed down or they sit on the tongue like clay.They have no sugar and many have noticed the cheaper quality.
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Dot 5-16-2008 @ 8:25AM
FYI there are 3 or 4 different bakeries that provide the cookies. Each council reviews the incentives that the bakeries offer for the sales and select the bakery that gives what they want the girls to receive. Thus your cookies may well be different every year. If you didn't like the cookies tell the council. Your comments may help them select a different bakery next year.
Marian 5-16-2008 @ 9:31AM
I have to agree with you. I thought it was just me, but those cookie's certainly do not taste the same as they used to.
KK 5-16-2008 @ 9:44AM
There are actually 3 different companies that amek GS cookies. each Council chooses the company based on the price and incentives each company offers. The basic cookies are supposed to be the same, but that is why the cookies might be called Shortbread in one area and Trefoils in another. It's also why there aren't the same special extra cookies like the Lemon sandwiches versus the Lemonades in some places. And even though they are supposed to taste the same, there are differences. When I was a Scout my mom was the cookie chairman for a 5 county Council. We had cases of cookies sent to us by different companies and my brother and I definitely chimed in about which ones were best.
Mary Wright 5-16-2008 @ 10:40PM
I agree. I immediately noticed this year that the cookies are less flavorful. I think the quality has decreased over the last couple of years. I thought perhaps they were putting less filling in the cookies to save money. But I'm not sure they haven't started using less expensive ingredients in the base dough, i.e., margarine or shortening in place of butter, etc.
cc 5-16-2008 @ 2:17PM
There are two different bakers that make Girl Scout Cookies. Our territory has Little Brownie Bakers and I am not sure who the other one is.
melissa 5-18-2008 @ 10:48AM
The cookie taste has not changed yet the removal of saturated fats is the difference. In addition to this, the bakery may as well be different. I know many swear that carmel delights and samoas are the same cookie, i totally beg to differ. they are similar much like a chocolate creme sandiwch and an oreo on a shelf in the store look the same, but noone can make an oreo like oreo.. Little Brownie Bakers is the bakery I was used to growing up and luckily for me, my council uses Little Brownie Bakers as well now. There is each year one cookie set for people with sugar problems, this year our cookie was a chocolate chip.. I have to say everyone I know who ate those came back for more. I would have to wonder what bakery your area uses and write a letter of complaint to the local girl scout council (not the girls they have no say) stating your complaints. I can not guarantee a response but your mail will be read and if enough people in your area complain they will be forced to switch bakeries.
don 5-16-2008 @ 6:53AM
isnt a shame that these cookie companys use this as a way around the child labor laws and no one pays taxs on them and the kids get a small return on them
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melissa 5-18-2008 @ 11:02AM
Don, actually the child does get alot out of this. I am a leader for 3 troops, and i have watched many children who were very shy 5 years ago, now stand tall with pride asking people with a huge smile to help their troop. They have also learned that in order to get something for themselves, they do not go to their parents, they work for it. Some have worn cookie costumes, other just big ole smiles, and yet others make signs for the sale. Each child bringing something to the table to make the sale a success.
Our girls also mail cookies to men and women over seas, they are asked each year where they would like to donate cookies to and each year they come up with iraq. They all have different opinions on war and have all come to learn that they do NOT need to be on the same page with political views to support the men and women who are serving our country. The older people who come to our tables are full with stories which the kids LOVE to hear and the older people LOVE the attention.
I do have to say that we do not push our cookies like the girl in this article but our cookies are sold with many values attached to them, Do I wish I was going to Hawaii on my troops cookie money.. lol heck yea but I am not willing to go to that length to do so. I know what 17,000 boxes of cookies looks like, I am the cookie chair for our service unit and our entire unit of 19 troops sold 18,000 boxes in which I had to separate into piles per troop. Just sorting those cookies for troops to pick up off a truck is a very overwhelming morning, I can NOT picture all those cookies being in my home.. YUK
Lele 5-16-2008 @ 7:13AM
maybe if we stopped using the phrase "kick butt" to discribe winning or doing a good job.. our children would have a higher opinion of themselves & what they are trying to accomplish.
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steve 5-16-2008 @ 8:01AM
maybe if parents didn't baby and shelter there children from all things real and present in this world then they might actually get some stuff done, as opposed to you holding their hand and doing it with them.
John Casy 5-16-2008 @ 7:57AM
Yeasr ago Girl Scout cookies use to be good. But the pass several years I purchase them and theer awful. I would never buy them again.
This broad sold a lot of cookies. More than normal. I wonder what her and mom provided with the cookies??
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sharptailguy 5-16-2008 @ 10:20AM
Looks like you've been working on your spelling..
karen 5-16-2008 @ 12:33PM
John Casey how can you pass judgment on cookies when you are calling a child a broad. This is a child in the Girl Scouts not some woman on the streets. be kind. She worked her tail off and deserves praise not critisism from the likes of you. Jennifer you did an awsome job with the help of your awsome Mom. Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Casy 5-16-2008 @ 12:57PM
Karen : Your reply
: Girl Scot cookies
If I remember right shes 15 and yes broad applies to her and any female.. And yes your right again when you said she work her tail off. That would explain why so many extra cookies were sold....
Smarten up Karen
The Girl Scouts has a real business going. Sucking these kids in to selling cheap crap cookies at a over inflated price.
Ellen 5-16-2008 @ 3:17PM
Congrat's Mother and Daughter team Scouts! You worked very hard and five highs and taps on the backs to your entire troop and yourselves! Entire your trip to Europe!!!!!!!! Negative comments need not apply, keep them to yourself!
John Casy 5-16-2008 @ 3:22PM
Ellen your comment Ref: Girl Scout Cookies
Why don't you E Mail me direct Fathertimema @aol.com
John Casy
daanfa 5-16-2008 @ 4:41PM
Are you serious the only way she sells this many is if she sets up at local stores and malls and sells ilegally and before it is correct to do so. I have seen many scouting orginizations in my area get reprimanded for selling at these places. Wake up from you dream world. This didn't happen legally.
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Angela 5-16-2008 @ 11:27AM
daanaa-it's not illegal to sell cookies the way she did. She was there every day-on a the steets-the people looked for her. I am sure if she weren't supposed to be there the cops would have told her to move on. I am a troop leader. We sell at Wal-mart, the mall, grocery stores, Lowes, any business that will welcome us. The procedure to do this requires the troop to GET PERMISSION from the store's management first. The girls in your community may have been asked to leave because they didn't first ask permission to be there. For example, K-Mart already had a March of Dimes fund raiser and couldn't accomodate us.