It’s Girl Scout cookie time again, but be prepared to dig a little deeper this year to enjoy those Thin Mints, Samoas and Trefoils in the Chicago area.
Every box of cookies sold by the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana is priced at $6 a piece, a dollar higher than last year.
That’s also a buck higher than some far west suburban areas and other parts of northern Illinois, but still cheaper than New York.
“I think people realize that the world is changing. Everything’s going up,” said Tonisha Hood, director of marketing and brand for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
Hood said prices are decided by each council, so price differences aren’t out of the ordinary. She pointed to inflation as the reason her council’s boxes are a little pricier this year.
“People understand that this is a fundraiser, and it’s generating dollars for girls to have great experiences. They’re willing to pay the additional dollar to provide the experience for these girls.”
The council Hood represents covers much of Cook, Lake, DuPage and Will counties as well as parts of northwestern Indiana.
Booths popped up this weekend and will be around until mid-March.
“I’ve already had people telling us that they’re seeing us outside of [Jewel] and local stores. It’s super exciting for the girls to get outside, connect with the customers, connect with individuals,” Hood said.
Farther to the west, cookies sold by the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois will cost $5 a box. They represent parts of 16 Illinois counties, stretching from McHenry and Kane to the state’s northwestern border, but also including small parts of southwestern Lake and far northwestern Cook and DuPage counties.
Those booths are set to open Friday. Some troops in other parts of the country, such as New York, are charging up to $7 a box, according to the New York Times.
Most tables should have electronic pay options, though the exact type varies troop to troop. Girls can also sell cookies online through eBudde. Each girl gets her own link, which customers can then buy cookies through.
Cookie lovers who prefer face-to-face contact can locate nearby booths by typing in their ZIP code on the Girl Scouts website. Most booths are only open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, though a few operate on weekdays.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to work together to bond together and to gain new skills and provide resources for activities that they can enjoy,” Hood said.
