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(NEXSTAR) – It might seem unimaginable that boxes of Thin Mints or Peanut Butter Patties would remain uneaten at the close of a Girl Scout cookie season, yet it occasionally does occur. Luckily, the Girl Scouts typically have strategies in place for such a scenario.
Various Girl Scout councils nationwide sometimes face the challenge of excess, unsold cookie boxes due to multiple factors. The reasons can vary widely among troops; some local leaders attribute it to increased prices, inflation affecting potential buyers, bad weather hindering face-to-face sales, and the availability of imitation cookies at major discount stores.
“People just don’t have the funds,” a troop leader mentioned in a Facebook post earlier this year. “In previous years, a single marketing email would result in selling 100 boxes within the first 24 hours. This year, that number dropped to just 20 boxes.”
Another leader noted, “There are so many Girl Scout cookie imitations in grocery stores now, which is really disappointing.”
No matter the cause, Girl Scout councils frequently offer advice for navigating these disappointing situations. Some recommend transferring surplus inventory to troops with higher sales or continuing sales post-season to cover costs. However, many councils discourage these practices, potentially penalizing those who deviate from the established guidelines.
Donating leftover cookies to charity, on the other hand, is totally above-board. Per the official guidance from the Girl Scouts of the USA, councils or troops with leftover Tagalongs, Samoas or other cookie varieties are encouraged “to work with local food pantries and other charitable organizations to distribute cookies as a special treat for people seeking food relief services.”
The Girl Scouts of the USA also works with the licensed bakeries that produce the cookies — ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers — “to ensure that they also have an annual plan for responsibly managing leftover cookie inventory,” according to the GSUSA’s FAQ page. (A representative for the GSUSA, as well as those for ABC and Little Brownie Bakers, did not respond to requests for more information about these inventory policies. But it’s likely some are donated to charity. In the past, the bakers have also suggested they may provide leftovers to prisons.)
Council leaders, meanwhile, say they have donated unsold inventory to food banks, first responders, veterans organizations or senior-living facilities.
Troops sensing an over-abundance of unsold cookies can also organize donations via the “Care to Share,” “Cookie Share” or “Gift of Caring” programs, which allow Scouts to collect money in exchange for providing cookies (and other items) to food pantries, the USO or other number of worthwhile causes. Nexstar’s KTLA, after the 2024 cookie season, had found that several of the country’s largest councils had taken part in these programs, with some donating nearly 200,000 boxes to such organizations. It was still unclear, though, how many boxes were truly “unsold” after accounting for those provided to charity via supporters’ monetary donations.
In the event that troops truly can’t find a way to unload their unsold inventory, it’s not unheard-of for Girl Scouts to eat them, use them in baked goods, or stash them away to enjoy later.
“I think it varies,” one Reddit user wrote in a post discussing the uses for leftover treats. “My leader has stated numerous times that she has a whole closet full of cookies from last year that her kids eat.”