As for so many of us, it has been challenging for Girl Scout troop leaders to figure out how and where to sell cookies this year. Pandemic protocols have caused some of the usual locations to turn the troops down, so leaders have had to think outside the box.
Barbara Bowyer is one of those leaders who, out of necessity, found a different approach. She’s the leader of Girl Scout Troop 652 (girls in grades 2-5) and assistant leader of Girl Scout Troop 3486 (6th grade and up), which meet at Second Presbyterian Church (Westminster at Taylor).
On Feb. 20 & 21, there was a drive-through sale on Second Church’s parking lot. Pictured above are a few of the Girl Scouts who took part: Kourtnee, Shonia, and Nyla.
Bowyer added, “COVID19 has put a real damper on in-person Girl Scout meetings too, but the younger troop has been able to gather for several activities, including a hike in Forest Park, a trip to the Zoo and to the Missouri Botanical Garden. We also had a parking lot campfire, and attended an event at the Missouri History Museum.”
On Saturday, Troop 1259 sold cookies on Straub’s patio, above and below. The girls in this troop attend schools throughout the city and in U. City too.
Also on Saturday, Sabine Block, a Girl Scout Daisy, photographed here with her mother, Chantal, sister, Lucinda (LuLu), and dad, Adam, was selling cookies from their “cookie wagon.” Sabine, who is 6 years old, is a member of Daisy Troop 30 at Mallinckrodt Elementary School. (Membership in Girl Scout Daisies is for girls in Kindergarten and 1st grade.)
This year, each Girl Scout has her own digital cookie site, so if are still looking for a source in the neighborhood, contact Sabine through her site here. (Her parents will arrange to get the cookies to you.)
On another local front, here are photos from a neighborhood Mardi Gras Parade, pandemic-style:
A couple of weeks ago a double-masked Suzanne Miller, middle row left, sent out a last-minute invitation to neighbors to join a Mardi Gras Parade at 4 p.m. It was just after the big snow and temperatures were still in the low teens, so it was difficult for Suzanne to plan more hoopla than a trek along snow-covered sidewalks on Maryland Ave. from Taylor up to Kingside Diner and the Chess Club. “At least we got outside and got the kids together,” Suzanne added, “We do what we can do these days.”
Congratulations to all the parents who are doing what they can to keep things as normal as possible for their families these days. It would be interesting to know how you have managed, so if you’d like to share some tips, I’m happy to post them.