It's finally cookie season, and you may have heard about the self-righteous group who are boycotting GSUSA by not buying Girl Scout cookies from their friendly neighborhood girls. Their premise lies on a big maybe. If you read the ultimatum on their website -- which claims GSUSA is an abortion-supporting, Nazi-feminist, far-left organization -- you'll have witnessed their lack of evidence.
I'm here to uncover the truth about where the money from cookie sales actually goes. I think you'll be relieved to hear it can help a girl with her college tuition, get her to camp, and achieve her dreams, whatever they may be. The money earned by girls does not support outside organizations because 100 percent of the net revenue raised through the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays with the local council and troops. The councils can use the money to better their Girl Scout community by offering more programs at the council office or improving the council's camp properties. Local councils also partner up with their local USO and send cookies overseas to our troops through the Troop to Troop program.
But even the councils only get a small portion of the money earned by the girls. When I was a Girl Scout, my local council enrolled in the cookie scholarship program so that 10 percent of my sales went towards a scholarship I used for my college tuition. About 50 percent of the revenue becomes "cookie dollars," which are used in the council store to buy patches, supplies, uniforms, books, and more. The rest goes directly to the troop to be used for earning patches, field trips, or international travel. My troop saved enough money from selling cookies to go to England for an international jamboree for Scouts and Guides and traveled around the country.
If you're still worried about whether or not GSUSA supports abortion, here are some facts: The Girl Scouts of America organization aims to provide opportunities for girls in all kinds of ways. So yes, GSUSA believes all girls in the world should have access to basic health education, but it cannot be concluded that the organization supports abortion. The #cookiecott website sites the campaign, "The World We Want for Girls Beyond 2015," as evidence that GSUSA supports abortion. However, the campaign is not GSUSA's but WAGGGS's, the association GSUSA is a part of but does not fund in any way, contrary to what the #cookiecott site states.
Furthermore, the campaign aims to better the futures of our girls through improved education, and that does include sexual and reproductive health. Does that mean abortion and anti-life? No! In developing countries, girls do not even understand the basic functions of their bodies, such as their periods. "The World We Want for Girls" campaign acknowledges these issues from a non-ethnocentric viewpoint while the #cookiecott founders are whitewashing what reproductive health really means. If you need more evidence about the scope of reproductive health, consult the World Health Organization's fact sheets about reproductive health.
On another note, you can still support your local Girl Scouts even if you are watching your weight this year! Eat your cookies in moderation, donate directly to your Girl Scout at her cookie booth or send a box overseas to our troops! There are lots of ways to support the girls in your community this cookie season, so don't be afraid to say "Hello!" Check out the cookie finder or download the app so you know where to look this cookie season. And if you're you over 21, we've got you covered there, too: Beer and Brewing.
