Not the same bang per box: Girl Scouts cry foul over cookie revenue
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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Kern County Girl Scout parents say they've been boxed in and aren't getting the chance to raise as much money off cookie sales as other areas of California.
Ava and Sonny Tipton's daughter has been a Girl Scout for seven years.
"We used to get 65 cents for each box sold. Now we're getting 45 cents."
The Girl Scout Central California South Council is made up of Kern, Kings, Madera, Fresno and Tulare counties. The council has an incentive-based system; each box starts at 45 cents per box.
After 790,000 boxes are sold, the Scouts can earn an extra 5 cents per 100,000 boxes sold.
With other incentives, the Council told Eyewitness News the Scouts can actually earn up to 70 cents per box.
But other councils across the state don't have incentive-based programs.
One scout leader said they're making them jump through hoops others don't have to, while the Tipton's said they think they're sending a message.
"I think what they're trying to say is Orange County is more affluent, so the girls can sell more boxes."
And the Council agrees. It admits it's a difficult area to sell cookies.
Cathy Ferguson is the CEO of the CCSC. She said they have over 5,000 girls on financial assistance. That's half the scouts in the five counties.
So, they put the incentive program in so the girls could help themselves, and each other.
"Rather than giving them the fish, we're teaching them how to fish."
If they don't reach those incentives, the money goes back to the financial-assistance programs.
"Part of the Girl Scout law promises to be a sister to all Scouts. That doesn't mean the richest or the ones that look like them. It means all Girl Scouts."
Ava and Sonny Tipton's daughter has been a Girl Scout for seven years.
"We used to get 65 cents for each box sold. Now we're getting 45 cents."
The Girl Scout Central California South Council is made up of Kern, Kings, Madera, Fresno and Tulare counties. The council has an incentive-based system; each box starts at 45 cents per box.
After 790,000 boxes are sold, the Scouts can earn an extra 5 cents per 100,000 boxes sold.
With other incentives, the Council told Eyewitness News the Scouts can actually earn up to 70 cents per box.
But other councils across the state don't have incentive-based programs.
One scout leader said they're making them jump through hoops others don't have to, while the Tipton's said they think they're sending a message.
"I think what they're trying to say is Orange County is more affluent, so the girls can sell more boxes."
And the Council agrees. It admits it's a difficult area to sell cookies.
Cathy Ferguson is the CEO of the CCSC. She said they have over 5,000 girls on financial assistance. That's half the scouts in the five counties.
So, they put the incentive program in so the girls could help themselves, and each other.
"Rather than giving them the fish, we're teaching them how to fish."
If they don't reach those incentives, the money goes back to the financial-assistance programs.
"Part of the Girl Scout law promises to be a sister to all Scouts. That doesn't mean the richest or the ones that look like them. It means all Girl Scouts."
Wow, and to think I was complaining that prices have jumped two dollars since I was in Girl Scouts a little over ten years ago. I know time has passed but the cookies haven't changed whatsoever. Interesting they don't make as much but I suppose thats how the cookie crumbles.... bad joke I know. Maybe they need to look into saving money on wrapping or <a href="http://www.buildaboxonline.com/custom-boxes">custom boxes</a>.