GIRL SCOUTS OF KENTUCKY’S WILDERNESS ROAD CALLS ON KENTUCKY BUSINESSES TO BUY NEARLY 50,000 SURPLUS BOXES OF COOKIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Door-to-Door Cookie Sales Suspended Due to COVID-19; Unsold Surplus Cookie Inventory Will Have Major Impact on Girls’ Ability to Meet Their Goals
ERLANGER, Ky. – March 30, 2020––Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road (GSKWR) relies heavily on cookie sales as they represent over 80% of its annual operating budget and provide girls and their troops the opportunity to set goals and earn their own money, used to fund rigorous programs and growth opportunities. Because GSKWR Girl Scouts must sell cookies door-to-door and at public gathering places, the impact of actions around the COVID-19 pandemic have halted all direct cookie sales. GSKWR currently has warehouse locations throughout the State of Kentucky housing the 3,900 cases (46,800 boxes) of surplus cookies that must be sold. Companies throughout Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, large and small, are urged to purchase cases of cookies to support front-line workers in healthcare, restaurant businesses, manufacturing, distribution and any other essential businesses or organizations that continue to work during the COVID-19 crisis, or to donate to food banks or senior facilities to support vulnerable populations.
“Our Girl Scout Troops actually came up with the idea to drive a call to action to the Kentucky business community to buy cookies to thank employees and help support all the local social service agencies”, said Haleigh McGraw, Communications Director, Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road. “Our hope is that the business community will step up and buy all of our surplus inventory so that we can continue to serve our 8,000 K-12 girl members throughout Central, Eastern and Northern Kentucky”, she continued. GSKWR is asking businesses to support its Kentucky Cookie Entrepreneurs by purchasing as many cases as they can, with a minimum of 5 cases for $ 250.
By earning their own money through cookie sales, Kentucky Girl Scouts open the door to unlimited growth opportunities–– from adventure-packed camping and canoeing, to exploring space science and taking meaningful action to improve their communities. Troops learn goal setting, financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills through the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Revenue from the Girl Scout Cookie Program maintains GSKWR property and provides programming on 4 camp properties, provides financial assistance to more than 2,500 girls, training to nearly 4,000 volunteers, and other Girl Scout activities throughout the year.
To purchase cases of cookies with a $ 250 minimum, go to www.gskentucky.org/cookie-reliefor, contact Tammy Durham, Director of Grants and Community Partnerships at tdurham@gswrc.org.
About Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road
Recognized as the premier leadership opportunity for female ambition in Kentucky, Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road (GSKWR) serves over 8,000 girls and young women in 66 Kentucky counties and 1 Ohio county. With opportunities around the world, GSKWR advocates creativity and free choice, encouraging girls and young women to explore their passions and cultivate change through a focus on life skills, STEM, entrepreneurship and outdoor experiences. Through corporate partnerships in the State of Kentucky, GSKWR is creating a critical career pipeline of intelligent women leaders. To learn more about how Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road is creating experiential and leadership opportunities for growth, please visit www.gskentucky.org.
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