ENGLEWOOD — The Englewood Girl Scouts Troop 26286 has surpassed its cookie sales goal by a significant margin, reaching over 22,000 boxes sold after an outpouring of support from across the country.
Lauren Hightower, one of the troop’s leaders, learned on Tuesday that the number of boxes sold had climbed past 20,000. “We are so thankful and so surprised,” Hightower said. “I’m really excited for my girls. I can’t believe it.”
The troop originally set a goal to sell 2,100 boxes by March 11 in order to stay active and fund activities. Many members are related to veterans living in Volunteers of America Illinois housing in Englewood, where they have been selling cookies for five years. However, this year’s sales were challenging due to financial constraints faced by local families.
Following coverage from Block Club Chicago about their efforts and challenges, orders began coming in rapidly from readers and supporters nationwide. Hightower explained that after the story was published, “the numbers kept rising.” By Thursday night last week they had sold 3,000 boxes; by Friday afternoon sales exceeded 7,000. As demand grew beyond expectations, the troop continued raising its goals.
Hightower noted interest from authors, city officials and Governor JB Pritzker among those offering help. Local neighbors also contributed by buying large quantities for family and friends.
As of Tuesday afternoon this week, the digital store tracker showed that Troop26286 had sold 22,936 boxes—over ten times their initial target—which marks a record high in their five-year history. “I want to thank all of the readers and everyone who’s participating,” Hightower said. “We are so grateful. We are so blessed.”
Traditionally, Englewood troop leaders have personally funded many activities using proceeds from cookie sales—about $1 per box—and often used their own vehicles for trips or covered additional costs themselves. While Girl Scouts of the USA offers events like dance parties and cookie rallies to troops nationally, these opportunities have generally been unaffordable for Troop26286 until now.
“There’s been a lot of opportunities that I’ve wanted to take the kids on that we just cannot afford because it doesn’t work,” Hightower said. “We can’t ask the parents for field trip money.”
With increased funding from this year’s sales surge, leaders plan to invest more into programs such as fishing lessons, camping trips and arts workshops while also improving uniforms and possibly attending larger Girl Scouts events previously out of reach.
Hightower expressed hope that future programming could include workshops focused on writing skills or STEM careers: “see past the normal stuff in the neighborhood and strive for more opportunities and growth,” she said.
A longstanding request—a firehouse tour—may finally be possible with extra resources available this year. Ultimately Hightower hopes they might even secure funds for a bus: “We can take them to opportunities we really want them to see and do… Now we don’t have to worry about that.”
In addition to entrepreneurship lessons gained through selling cookies at veteran housing facilities each year, Hightower believes members will learn broader values: “I hope they learn about contributing to a group… People just want to support them without wanting something from them.”
Troop leaders traditionally host an annual party for members; according to Hightower this year’s celebration will be especially meaningful given recent successes.
Looking ahead before March 4th deadline—the next challenge is achieving at least one sale in every state; currently only eleven states remain where no orders have been placed yet: North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, New Hampshire, West Virginia, Mississippi, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky and Louisiana.
“We are so blessed,” said Hightower as she thanked supporters: “Thank you…for working so hard… This would not have happened without us having a platform to speak.”
