GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Girl scout cookie season looked a lot different this year and we all know why.

Due to COVID-19, many Girl Scouts were unable to canvas or set up a pop-up tent at a busy location, like supermarkets. Instead, area Girl Scouts got creative, selling online, marketing on Facebook, and using mini-van windows to advertise their coveted cookies for sale.

This year, Service Unit 708, which encompasses Gridley, Biggs, Manzanita and Richvale Girl Scout troops (Troops #70170, #70185), had overachieving sellers, with some girl scouts selling over 800 boxes! The Unit had so many Care-to-Shares (when someone donates money instead of purchasing a box of cookies) that they were able to treat several organizations to something extremely sweet. 

The chief beneficiary of Unit 708’s hard-selling efforts was Operation Warm Heart. Heather Rogers, leader for troop 70185, product and cookie manager/cookie cupboard host for Service Unit 708, worked with Operation Warm Heart to facilitate the donation. Rogers says, “The fact that this is getting to happen…. It’s awesome.” She continues, “especially, because we couldn’t sell in person for more than half our season!”

On behalf of Operation Warm Heart, Senior Airman Michael Orzamanski and Airman 1st Class Andrew Ford came to the Biggs cookie cupboard to receive a huge donation of SU 708’s care-to-shares. Both airmen were impressed by the number of cookies"'literally 792 boxes"'and the festive handmade signs created by the Girl Scouts in thanks for their service. Senior Airman Orzmanski said, “I think this is awesome, honestly. I mean, it’s nice to give back to the people I work with and help coordinate this… just help out.” And as far as the cookies themselves, A1C Ford says his favorite are “probably the Samoas.” Orzamanski agreed.

After the donation to Operation Warm Heart and the soldiers in our area, SU 708 sugared up Gridley Police Department and Gridley Fire CALFIRE Butte County with 84 boxes and our area schools with just a tad more than that. Pretty sweet!

If you are interested in becoming a Girl Scout or would like to learn more? Visit gsnorcal.org or email [email protected] to have local staff contact you.