Troops and individuals from the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways (GSNYPENN) Council spanning 24 counties in New York and two in northern Pennsylvania sold 1,673,785 packages of Girl Scout Cookies during the 2023 season which concluded April 30. Local Girl Scouts increased sales this year by 16.56% over 2022 and successfully reached program goals during the council’s largest annual fundraiser. Members use program earnings to power experiences for themselves and their troops like community service, camp and outdoor adventures, travel, badge work, pursuing Girl Scouting’s highest awards, and more.
The 2023 cookie program began later than usual, on January 31, to try to help mitigate a potential repeat of midseason stock shortages that plagued the council in 2021 and 2022 due to baker supply chain issues. The council also extended the typical end-of-March season conclusion to the end of April to allow members additional time to hold community booths and reach troop and individual goals. Historically, around 75-80 percent of the council’s registered girl membership participates in the cookie program each year. The 2023 cookie season saw an increase in the number of girls taking part, marking an 82 percent participation rate.
“Through the annual cookie program, our members learn financial literacy, practice entrepreneurship and further develop and strengthen their leadership skills. It was wonderful to feel a return to ‘normalcy’ this season,” says GSNYPENN CEO Julie Dale. “Despite a few bumps in the road, we truly appreciate the continued support of our members, families, friends, and communities each year during this program and challenge them to help us donate even more cookies to area food banks.”
24,520 packages of cookies were purchased by customers through the council’s Sweet Support Gift of Caring annual service project which helps troops give back to others while also supporting program goals. Donated cookies are being gifted to the 2023 Gift of Caring recipients Food Bank of Central New York and Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
Both food banks serve populations spanning the council’s footprint. GSNYPENN wants to help stock the pantries with a special treat through the summer months when food insecurities for children and families can be higher during the school break.
GSNYPENN serves girls in K-12 across 26 counties: Allegany, Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Oswego, Otsego, St. Lawrence, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne and Yates in New York and Bradford and Tioga in Pennsylvania.
