Thick ice and Thin Mints? Scouts' cookies crumble

Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 2, 2007 at midnight

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Ready-to-charm Girl Scout cookie sellers and sweet-toothed would-be customers are being frustrated by a stubborn winter of deep snow, cold temperatures and thick ice that has put cookie sales into a skid.

Sales are about 10 percent below last year at this time.

That translates into about $400,000 in lost sales.

The Mile Hi Council, which is the largest Girl Scouts group in Colorado, averages about $4 million in yearly sales - 2.5 million boxes of cookies.

And Saturdays, which are traditionally the biggest days for Girl Scouts to pitch their cookies, have seen some of the worst weather of the season.

Special educational and charitable projects undertaken by the Girl Scouts Mile Hi Council that are funded, at least in part, by the cookie sales could be in jeopardy, said Amanda Kalina, a Mile Hi Council spokeswoman.

"These girls are having a hard time getting out to customers and getting the word out there to let people know that cookies are still on sale and cookies are available until March 4," Kalina said.

But rain or shine - make that sleet or snow - Girl Scouts Julia Vuolo, 6, and Callie Lang, 10, ventured out into Westminster's Westbrook neighborhood Thursday afternoon to sell their cookies.

They were greeted by blowing snow and plummeting mercury.

Julia and Callie, guided by Julia's mother, Kresta, managed to reach only six homes.

Residents in only three of the houses answered the door, and only one resident ordered cookies.

"This is sort of difficult," said Julia, a member of Girl Scout Troop 1390, afterward.

"All the snow made it difficult to see where we're going. The snow made it difficult to see the sidewalk."

Callie has it even harder. She suffers from allergic reactions in extreme cold and sometimes breaks out in hives.

"From the first blizzard, we still have ice chunks all over." said Callie, a member of Troop 2331.

Tough times for Girl Scouts

Saturdays, traditionally the biggest days for Girl Scouts to sell cookies, have recently seen some of the snowiest days this winter. And it might hurt the youngsters' coffers:

• $400,000 might be lost this year by the Mile Hi Council, the largest Girl Scout group in Colorado. Winter weather has hampered door-to-door sales, which are about 10 percent below last year's.

• $4 million of sales is how much Girl Scouts from the Mile Hi Council average in a year - 2.5 million boxes of cookies.

• But, cookie fans, don't fret: People interested in purchasing cookies can contact the Girl Scouts Mile Hi Council at 303-778-0109, ext. 331, or visit www.girlscoutsmilehi.org.

gutierrezh@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5204

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