Alicia Cockerham

Are the manufacturers of the Girl Scout cookies out to rob the 5-17 year old girls? I always thought that the Scouts were making money and understanding the value of hard work but this isn’t the case. For example, if a Scout sells a box of cookies worth $3.50, the troop would only see a profit of $.52 -- that is highway robbery so the Scouts are working for 15%. What value is that?

I had to sit back for a moment and understand what is the true mission and value of the Girl Scout’s honor which is “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.” Okay working for a company/manufacturer like this doesn’t instill these values in a young child. So what is the message that they are really sending?

When these kids are working going from door to door, standing outside of any and every local store trying to sell cookies they’re thinking that this money is going toward trips, parties, charities, or any other planned activity but it’s not. It’s going back to the company to cover the cookies that didn’t get sold. Then the parents have to step in to donate and replace the money that should already be there so that the Girls Scout’s honor isn’t ruined.

I do believe that the Boy and Girl Scouts are excellent groups for children to participate in. It gives a child a sense of pride and belonging. Embracing the need of being wanted around their own peers and it keeps kids off the street and making something positive of themselves. I just wish the Scouts earned a higher commission per box.

Did you realize that the cute little Scout is seeing only pennies off of each over-priced box of cookies that you buy?

Photograph Credit:
Sabrina Segal