LAKE COUNTY>>> This Thursday marked the first day of in person Girl Scout Cookie sales for the 2025 season, keeping up an entrepreneurial fundraising tradition that dates back 108 years. Though some recent changes may have them looking different, Girl Scout Cookies will be more accessible than ever through an improved website.
From now until March 16, cookie booths will be set up around the county and this year can be found via their online schedule at ilovecookies.org or their main website gsnorcal.org. According to the schedule there will be a cookie booth tomorrow at Safeway in Lakeport, then again at Safeway in Lakeport and also at Bruno’s Shop Smart on Friday. In Kelseyville there will be a cookie booth on Friday at Common Grounds Coffee in the Kelseyville Riviera. On Saturday there will be cookie booths at both Bruno’s and Safeway again as well as one at Suzie Q’s Donuts in Lakeport. In Clearlake there will be a booth at Wal-Mart on Sunday. Many more booths are scheduled through to March 16 on the website.
Another new feature on the site is the ability to support a random girl scout, if you don’t know one to support personally, through the Digital Cookie Store. There one can find videos and biographies highlighting the girls scouts’ goals and projects and one can buy boxes of cookies to support her directly.
Mary-Jane Strom, Interim CEO of GSNorCal shared that this year there was a major change in their cookies as they had made the switch from their prior cookie manufacturer, Lil’ Brownie Bakers, to ABC Bakers. Therefore, some of the classic names of the cookies may differ this year, like the Tagalongs becoming Peanut Butter Patties and Samosas now being called Caramel deLites. Storm noted that these name changes were a legality as they change over companies, though there are a few names that the Girl Scout organization owns, like the well-known Thin Mints and Trefoils. Cookies have also increased in price this year, going from $6 per box to $7, as Storm stated “All of the donations go to support the girls’ programs to keep our camps running.” She continued “There is always assistance for those who need help going to camps.”
Illustrating the success of the many girl scouts of Northern California including the over 400 participating right here in Lake County, Strom shares that over 3.4 million boxes of cookies are sold in Norcal each year. That is over 200 thousand cases that get delivered and distributed by volunteers each year.
As the cookie sales help the scouts secure funds for their troops’ plans and projects, it is only one part of a girl scout’s year. Strom explained a recent luncheon event that she attended where 85 gold award winners were present to discuss their ongoing projects. Kelseyville native Emily Anderson was recognized by the Lake County Board of Supervisors in December for receiving her gold award, an achievement that hasn’t been seen in this area for many years. Anderson was awarded this because of her free little library and reading buddy program where she provided free books paired with stuffed animals for her local community. Anderson shared, “I did this because there is not a library in Kelseyville so I figured to do something like this for when kids are on break, they can read more, because reading is a very important skill.” Her troop leader Linda Breeding shared how hard Anderson worked, first obtaining her silver award prior to the gold. District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska expressed her gratitude saying, “Thank you for earning the highest honor in Girl Scouting and thank you Linda for making such an impact on all of these girls.”
The local girl scouts are hosting a Valentines friendship activity to “try out” girl scouts, held at the Stonefire Pizza in Lakeport. According to the website this a free event open to all Kindergarten through 6th grade girls and gender-expansive youth on February 21 from 6 to 7 p.m.
