National Girl Scout Day 2020
Fox & Friends First team celebrates occasion with a variety of cookies!
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.
The coronavirus pandemic has drastically upended life across America, included a time-honored spring tradition — Girl Scout cookie season.
In late March, the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) suspended door-to-door sales and cookie booths for members to market the famous treats, soon after the global COVID-19 outbreak was declared a national emergency.
The coronavirus pandemic has drastically upended life across America, included a time-honored tradition often celebrated in spring — Girl Scout cookie season. (Girl Scouts of the USA))
After troop leaders worried that their groups would lose funds due to a potential surplus of unsold cookies — some varieties of which currently retail for up to $6 a box — GSUSA officials stepped up to offer extra support through the unprecedented situation, a report claims.
WHICH FOODS SHOULD YOU STOCK UP ON IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY?
“The COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. hard in the midst of cookie season, so many girls and councils haven’t been able to sell their inventory due to social distancing and other safety precautions,” a spokesperson for GSUSA told Today in a Monday interview.
“Girl Scouts of the USA is working closely with our 111 local councils across the country who administer the iconic Girl Scout Cookie program to try and ensure that troops, girls, and volunteers aren't left financially responsible for any excess inventory of Girl Scout Cookies," a GSUSA rep told Fox News on Tuesday.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
Amid the ongoing outbreak, the Girl Scouts are now promoting a new program called Cookie Care, which allows shoppers to buy cookies from their local troops online, or donate the treats to first responders, food pantries and town and county employees.
Looking ahead, GSUSA will also offer additional support, such as potential buy-backs and connecting donation centers with troops.
"Many councils have extended their sales deadlines, and will communicate their practices and guidelines to their troops at the end of their season,” the spokesperson said.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS
According to GSUSA, Girl Scout councils sell the beloved cookies for between six and eight weeks each year. Most sales happen between January and April, but some occur as early as September. The cookie sales benefit programming for 1.7 million girls, the organization said.
This year, 1.3 million boxes of Girl Scout cookies have been sold, the Cookie Care platform reports.
CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS' CONTINUING CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
“For 108 years, Girl Scouts has been there in times of crisis and turmoil,” GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo said in a statement. “And today we are stepping forward with new initiatives to help girls, their families, and consumers connect, explore, find comfort and take action.”