Girl Scout Donates Cookies To Police, Fire Crews: GA Coronavirus

BUCKHEAD — A 15-year-old Girl Scout and Buckhead resident was on a mission to maintain her title as top cookie seller. She was on schedule to meet her goal and then the coronavirus pandemic hit Atlanta. Sheridan Stevens was told that she couldn't operate her cookie booths anymore.

The Capstone Academy student told Patch that she wanted to find a way to put a smile on people’s faces during this time of uncertainty.

With nowhere to set up, Sheridan was left with dozens of unsold boxes, a first for the No. 1 Buckhead cookie seller, said her mother, Regina Ovenden.

For the latest updates on the new coronavirus outbreak in Georgia, sign up for free news alerts and a newsletter in your Patch town.

Sheridan has been recognized by the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta as a “Dough Getter,” which are girls who sell 1,300 or more boxes each year. She has held that title for six years, but this year she found herself with an approaching deadline and too many cookies. She had to get creative.

When a buyer asked if she could donate a few of the extra boxes to a local police and fire station, Sheridan put on gloves and a mask to deliver them herself.

“Both said that it was their first donations of Girl Scout cookies that they had gotten that year, which we thought was a little sad,” Sheridan said. “They deserve more than five packages of cookies.”

Inspired by their reactions, Sheridan said she wanted to do more. To see if others were interested in helping, she posted on the Next Door app.

“We got a lot of interest. I think when some people think Girl Scout cookies, they don't necessarily always think of where the cookies can go other than their own home.”

With the help of others, she was able to donate more than 300 boxes of cookies to the Atlanta Zone 2 Police Station and Fire Station 21 and 29. Her last delivery was March 22.

Regina said that Sheridan jumped on the plan early. If they hadn’t sold them, the family would have been responsible for paying for everything that was left unsold.

“She really takes the initiative,” she said. “This was all her idea. She really had the foresight to see this coronavirus problem happening back in late February.”

That wasn’t all.

“We helped out three other troops by taking the rest of their inventory and getting people to pay for them and donate them,” Regina said. “And Sheridan received no credit or additional prizes, she just did it because she wanted to.”

Girl Scouts followed her lead. A few days after her last delivery, on March 27, they announced that troop members could direct their customers to Girl Scouts Cookie Care, a campaign that lets consumers order and donate cookies online.

Sheridan wants to let her peers know that they too can make a difference.

“I just think we should check in on not just family and friends, but our community and see what we can do to help,” she said, adding that there may be some neighbors unable to leave their home for groceries.

Sheridan has been using her social media platform to urge people to practice social distancing and to be kind to others during this time.

“Although everything going on right now is chaotic and really sad, we can focus on the positive things going on,” she said.

“One of my favorite quotes is 'God will never put weight on your shoulders that you cannot carry.' And I really liked that one because it reminds me there's a light at the end of the tunnel and that everything that myself and everyone else is going through is making us stronger and we can get through together.”

SEE MORE:

What's Open, Closed In Buckhead During Coronavirus Shutdowns

Gov. Kemp Extends Georgia's Shelter In Place: Coronavirus

Kroger Customers Can Help Donate And It's Simple: GA Coronavirus

Georgia Tallies 863 Coronavirus Cases, 31 Deaths In Last 24 Hours