LAKEWOOD RANCH – The coronavirus creates a Suncoast Girl Scout cookie crisis.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is suspending all council-sponsored activities, programs, trainings, facility rentals, and properties. However, they will continue to sell cookies, with the challenge they’ve lost some of their most important retail outlets.
“We’re out here today selling as many cookies as we can so we don’t have to pay for them, because our booths were canceled,” girl scout, Allison Rothhaar, said.
Publix, Walmart and other stores cancelled access, citing coronavirus concerns.
“We had already bought hundreds of boxes of cookies to sell at these booths now we were stuck with,” Lakewood Ranch Girl Scout Troop Leader, Crystal Rothhaar, said.
Crystal Rothhaar, says if they don’t sell the boxes it could cost them thousands of dollars in profit. And they would have to pay for the cookies.
The coronavirus is affecting their ability to sell these cookies. And they’re having to think outside the box.
“We have to do anything we can to get rid of these cookies right now,” Crystal Rothhaar said. “So we went online and asked if anyone is interested in buying them and businesses started answering, people started answering.”
After seeing a social media post, Jamie McCue decided she wanted to support the Girl Scouts as well.
“We’re just looking to try to do whatever we can to support all of our guests, and our community, and our neighborhood as well,” owner of Evan Alexander Salon & Spa, Jamie McCue, said. “Because, it’s becoming difficult for people in different ways, to sort through the information and also to make sure that their situations are secure both financially and for their current obligations that they have to meet.”
McCue bought $100 worth of cookies, which help go towards Girl Scout programs.
“Camping and service projects and field trips and going to museums,” Crystal Rothhaar said.
“We’re thankful to all these businesses for helping us sell our cookies because then we don’t have to pay for them,” Allison Rothhaar said.
“Girl Scouts is a great organization and they’re not old enough to understand, so I think adults should step up and to help them like this, then I think that’s a wonderful thing,” McCue said.
Girl Scouts are selling cookies to friends and family through neighborhood walkabouts as well.
Girl Scout cookies are available until March 20. If you want to help the Girl Scouts and buy cookies, you can check Facebook Marketplace, go to Evan Alexander Salon, or just help the girls going door-to-door.
