Record-Breaking Girl Scout Cookie Season in Orange County

IRVINE, CA (June 15, 2021) – Girl Scouts of Orange County’s 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program made history with record sales by individual Girl Scouts and heartwarming stories of resilience and creative entrepreneurship. Despite challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, Orange County Girl Scouts sold over 1,706,328 packages of cookies from January 11 to March 28. Though total sales were down from last year, many Girl Scouts set personal and council-wide sales records. A record 21 Girl Scouts sold over 5,000 packages each, including four girls who each sold over 10,000 packages.

Due to the pandemic, Girl Scouts were not able to conduct their typical door-to-door sales this year, and modified booth sales in front of local retail stores were only possible towards the end of the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Innovation, however, is part of Girl Scouts’ DNA. A new partnership with Grubhub helped consumers find their favorite Girl Scout cookies, as did Girl Scout cookie entrepreneurs’ extraordinary resourcefulness in employing digital marketing tactics like QR codes to facilitate safe and contactless delivery.

“One sweet side effect of this year’s Cookie Program was that Orange County Girl Scouts got super innovative in reaching their cookie sales goals, and I couldn’t be prouder or more impressed,” said Vikki Shepp, CEO of Girl Scouts of Orange County. “The Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches girls important skills like goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. And this year’s challenges also taught them the importance of persistence and resilience, invaluable life lessons.” Chloe L., a Girl Scout Cadette in Costa Mesa’s Troop 3203, said, “I learned that no matter what, as long as you work hard, you can reach your goal—even during a pandemic!”

This year also saw tremendous support for the Girl Scout Cookie Share program. Through this program, over 40,000 packages of cookies purchased by customers will be donated to military troops, local food banks, and other charitable organizations. In fact, every year Orange County Girl Scouts donate thousands of packages of cookies to food banks and the military, giving those in need a familiar treat that they may otherwise not be able to enjoy. Sierra R., a Girl Scout Daisy from Troop 8486 in Costa Mesa, said, “I was happy that there was so much kindness and generosity during such a difficult year for the world.”

Many other Girl Scouts shared stories of personal triumph, including:

• Hailey H., a Girl Scout Cadette from Troop 3155 in Anaheim – This year’s TOP SELLER in Orange County, Hailey sold a total of 13,093 packages of cookies—an all-time record for Hailey and Girl Scouts of Orange County. Hailey was able to sell this extraordinary number of packages because of her deep commitment to holding booth sales every day possible. Hailey has been a Cookie All Star (selling 1000+ packages) for eight years in a row, selling a total of 39,093 packages of cookies in her years to date as a Girl Scout!

• Tess B., a Girl Scout Junior from Troop 5101 in Placentia – Tess sold 633 packages this year, a personal best. She got especially creative by partnering with her neighbor’s teen rock band (called “ti85”) for a driveway “Cookie Concert,” selling Girl Scout cookies as a concession treat.

• Sierra S., a Girl Scout Daisy from Troop 8486 in Costa Mesa – Early in the program, Sierra was only selling cookies online and through word-of-mouth. She decided to try a booth sale following mask wearing and physical distancing guidelines and ended up selling 243 packages in one day! She eventually surpassed 1,000 packages, well exceeding her original goal.

All proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie Program—the largest girl-led entrepreneurship program in the world—stay with the local council and benefit each girl’s troop. Many local troops have remarkable plans for how they will use their proceeds, including building a “little” library; purchasing supplies to make dog and cat toys for local animal shelters; and providing art therapy baskets to Laura’s House, a local women’s and children’s shelter.

When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you help councils, troops, and Girl Scouts fund life-changing programs, experiences, and learning all year long. These experiences broaden girls’ worlds, teach them essential skills, and prepare them to achieve their dreams and make the world a better place.

About Girl Scouts of Orange County

We are the Girl Scouts of Orange County. We are 30,000 strong – nearly 18,000 girls and 12,000 adults who believe that every girl can change the world. Girl Scouts began over 100 years ago with one woman, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low, who believed in the power of every girl. Today, we continue her vision of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, by helping them discover their inner strength, passions, and talents. With programs in every zip code in Orange County, there are opportunities for every girl to do something amazing. We are the Girl Scouts. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit girlscoutsoc.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Caron Berkley, Communications Director
cberkley@girlscoutsoc.org