A Tree for the Future
Every Spring
the sap rises in the trees
from root to branch
and makes a tree that looks dead
blossom with green leaves
and life.
So, it is that the Scouting Spirit
rises within you and
inspires you to put forth
your best.
By Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts
There is no more universal childhood experience for American girls than Girl Scouting. Half of all American women were Girl Scouts, and on January 7, 2025, there were 104 Girl Scout troops in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre. These troops comprised the Crown Poppy Service Unit, the largest group in the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. Nearly every troop in the Crown Poppy Service Unit was impacted by the Eaton Fire, and more than a thousand Girl Scouts ages 4-18 were displaced right at the start of what should have been one of the most exciting times to be a Girl Scout: cookie selling season.
One of the most quintessential American experiences, Girl Scout cookie season ran from January to March, during the height of chaos from the Eaton Fire. Many girls were still displaced, in precarious housing situations, removed from their schools and neighborhoods, and unable to participate in their regular activities. Even those girls who were able to move back to quickly remediated still-standing homes during that time found that there was no one left on their streets to buy cookies. Girls who lived on intact streets struggled to find buyers as we all buckled under the staggering financial impact of our fire recoveries. It felt callous to ask neighbors to buy cookies when their world burned down. It was also too much work for troop moms, who were already breaking under the weight of the enormous mental load of the fires. As one troop cookie mom said, “We couldn’t put our girls through more heartbreak right after the fire, so we didn’t sell. How could we even focus on cookies when some of our girls didn’t have somewhere to live?”
Without being able to sell cookies last year, many area troops struggled. Troops rely on the proceeds from cookie sales to fund many of the quintessential parts of the Girl Scout experience, like earning badges and attending camps. Many fire-affected troops also faced unexpected costs such as replacing all of their troop gear and girls’ uniforms. The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles council helped by offering every fire-affected Girl Scout up to $100 in free uniforms and covering all annual membership fees for 1,107 girls and troop leaders.
Further complicating the disruption to one of Girl Scouting’s most formative experiences, the Crown Poppy Service Unit’s headquarters, Camp Mariposa, was damaged in the fire and has been closed for the past year, so troops had no meeting place and no local camp to attend. Following a year of remediation and costly repairs, Camp Mariposa is slated to reopen this summer, so local opportunities will soon be restored to our girls— they just need the cookie sales to fund them.
One of the most frequently asked questions by first-time Girl Scout cookie buyers is “where does the $6 (or $7, for the gluten-free Toffeetastic cookies) per box go?” The Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles state “100% of all the proceeds from Girl Scout Cookie sales stay local to support Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. The proceeds from cookies support:
- Troop activities, travel, camp, and community service
- Over 250 programs in leadership, outdoors, STEAM, and life skills
- Financial assistance for 8,200+ Girl Scouts, including memberships and camperships.”
All Eaton Fire Girl Scouts who received free uniforms, memberships, and even up to two weeks of summer Girl Scout camperships can attest to this, as $97,000 went directly to the council’s fire assistance fund. Camp Mariposa’s repairs were funded by cookie proceeds. Twenty-four girls received fully funded overnight camp experiences; 34 others benefitted from free summer day camps. The council even fully funded the formation of new troops in the Eaton Fire community, including new uniforms and start-up items.
This year, the Girl Scouts of the Eaton Fire are back and ready to roll so that they can restart their joyful childhood experiences. Girls began taking pre-orders on January 6, and community booths will start on February 6. Volunteers have been hard at work securing booths for girls across the Eaton Fire area, and beginning Friday, February 6, you can find local Girl Scouts in the following locations:
Altadena
- Panda Express at 2234 Lincoln
- Prime Pizza at 1900 Allen Ave
Sierra Madre
- Savor the Flavor at 34 N Baldwin
- Taylor’s Ol’ Fashioned Market at 14 E Sierra Madre Blvd
Pasadena
- Blaze Pizza at 677 E Colorado
- Chipotle Hastings Ranch at 3409 E Foothill
- Chipotle PCC at 1687 E Colorado
- Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 415 S Lake
- CVS at 900 N Lake
- Highlight Coffee at 2071 Lincoln
- HomeState at 1992 Lincoln
- Old Navy Hastings Ranch at 3369 E Fothill
- Ralph’s at 3601 E Foothill
- Rose Bowl Aquatic Center at 360 N Arroyo
- Smart & Final at 3299 E Colorado
- Smart & Final at 401 N Fair Oaks
- Stater Bros at 1390 Allen
- Taco Libre at 36 W Colorado
- Vons at 155 California
- Vroman’s at 695 E Colorado
This year’s cookie season will come to an end on March 8, but many troops are expected to sell out of cookies within the first two weeks, so find a local troop and order soon!
Additional Resources:
Free Girl Scouts memberships: https://www.gsglavolunteerapps.org/downtimemembershiprequest/
Start a new troop (free in fire-impacted zip codes): https://www.girlscoutsla.org/en/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/start-a-troop.html
Disclaimer: The content shared in our blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, or financial advice. Please consult with a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.
