Did your neighborhood smell sweeter last week? Troop leaders from Morrison, Prophetstown, and Tampico, IL, took receipt of thousands of boxes of Girl Scout cookies, on Monday morning, February 18, 2019. Cases of 12 were delivered to Emmanuel Reformed Church, 202 E. Morris Street, Morrison, at 11:00 a.m. A representative from Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois Council, at right, verified the order with the driver, who delivered, unloaded, and grouped three towns’ orders into eight flavor towers.
There are approximately 40 Girl Scouts in Morrison. The 272 cases in the photograph belong to Morrison Girl Scout Troop #1504. They were sold by 27 girls, in grades Kindergarten through sixth, both online and in person.
Many customers donated boxes of cookies to a food bank or the Military. The latter were shipped directly from the manufacturer, “Little Brownie Bakers.”
Leader Hillary Blevins and Co-leader Meridith Layne repeatedly carried these cases to their vehicles and took them to Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, Morrison.
They were transferred to the Heritage Hall and restacked by flavor. Blevins and Layne were joined by volunteer women, and sorting continued. Blevins directed the women to gather specific amounts of cases and loose boxes–one girl at a time–that matched each cookie order form. The women made piles across the floor and atop tables, and an order form was placed on each pile.
After school, Co-leaders Kelsie Lowery, Vicki Hanson, and Andrea Ramirez, and parents arrived to pick up the cookies. By 6:00 p.m., 3264 boxes of Girl Scout cookies were on their way to be sorted a final time, by individual girls.
Cheryl Neumann‘s Morrison Cadette and Senior Girl Scout troop #5066 (four girls) and Ambassador Girl Scout troop #5005 (three girls) sold 67 cases of cookies. The Ambassadors are all high school Seniors. These older girl troops raise money each year for trips they design.
“We’ve been to seven states already, Chicago twice, and camping,” Neumann stated. The newest destination has not been finalized. Co-leaders are Becky Albrecht and Lisa Bland.
When you purchase a box of Girl Scout Cookies, you are investing in a girl’s future. Did you know Girl Scout Cookies is the largest girl-run business in the world? Girl Scout troops who participate in sales are raising money to fund their own Girl Scout adventures. Girls choose how to use troop proceeds, whether it’s for travel, financing community projects, attending camp, donating to a worthy cause, or a combination. It’s up to the girls, because Girl Scouts is completely girl-led.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches girls five essential life skills: goal setting; decision making; money management; people skills; business ethics. One hundred percent of the net revenue raised through the Girl Scout Cookie program in northern Illinois stays with Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois and its local troops. So, customers who purchase Girl Scout Cookies are not only getting a delicious treat–they are also making an important investment in girls living in their communities.