RUMSON – The first day of the 2020 Girl Scout cookie season was a special one, as a new cookie flavor was launched and a Middletown Girl Scout was honored.
At a press conference at Salt Creek Grille in Rumson, 8-year-old Brenna McCormick from the Belford section of Middletown was celebrated for being the new model on the Girl Scout “Thanks-A-Lot” cookie box. She and two other girls are playing soccer in the photo, atop the light blue packaging of the cookies.
“I think it looks awesome,” said Brenna of her cookie box. She said she was “really excited” when she found out she had been selected.
According to her mother Laura McCormick, Brenna’s photo was chosen after she participated in a soccer photoshoot at a camp by Girl Scouts of the United States of America. She has been playing soccer for about four years, said McCormick.
“It’s very unique. It’s quite an honor for Brenna,” said Eileen Higgins, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. “When Girl Scouts refreshes the package, they try to reflect the values of Girl Scouts,” she said, like outdoors skills.
Higgins gave Brenna a box of Thanks-A-Lot cookies and a framed poster of her with her cookie box at the press conference that afternoon.
Additionally, the new Lemon-Ups cookie was revealed at the Jan. 7 press conference. The round lemon cookies display positive messages on one side that provide messages about being a GIRL – Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker and Leader. Some cookies, for example, read “I am bold” and “I am strong.” A lemony glaze coats on the other side of the cookie.
According to Higgins, new cookies are created about every five to seven years, though there’s no set pattern. “As they (national headquarters) see the rotation needs to be livened up, they’ll come up with a new cookie.” Before Lemon-Ups, the newest cookie to be brought on was the Toffee-Tastic cookie, which is gluten-free.
Aside from being great sweet treats, Girl Scout cookies are more than just dessert; the selling process introduces young girls and women to entrepreneurship. They learn key financial and leadership skills, decision making, money management, social interaction and business ethics, among others, said Higgins.
In 2019, the Girl Scouts of Monmouth and Ocean counties sold over 1 million boxes of cookies. Profits remain in their communities and support their council and leadership experiences.
Brenna said her favorite part of Girl Scouts is that she gets to “make new friends and spend time with them,” she said. She is a member of Troop No. 60173.
In February at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, a TopCookie Dessert Challenge will be held to support the Girl Scouts. Participating chefs will incorporate different Girl Scout cookies into dessert entrees, to be judged before a panel. Participating restaurants include Cuisine on the Green at Atlantic, McLoone’s Restaurant, Nicholas Creamery, Ohana Grill and Talula’s. Each restaurant will make their desserts with a different assigned Girl Scout cookie. Event judges will include David Burke, Patty Caneda, Geremy Grunin, Tom Hayes and Carol Stillwell.
This article was first published in the January 9 – 15, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
