Girl Scouts in Hillsborough sold more than 32,000 boxes of cookies to hungry customers in town and around the country. In addition, over 4,700 boxes were donated to military personnel through Operation Jersey Cares.
This year, as in many prior years, Hillsborough Fire Company No. 2 offered Girl Scouts the use of the Route 206 Firehouse to support the massive undertaking, clearing out their trucks and equipment to make room for more than 1,600 cases of cookies, all staged and organized for pickup by dedicated troop leaders and troop cookie managers.
This year was a little different – because of COVID guidelines, the day had to be restructured a bit – drivers had to load their own cookies, instead of the usual group of volunteers who do the loading. And to keep with social distancing guidelines, there were longer and more spread out timeslots. But even with more restrictions, on distribution day, February 21, cars rolled through the two bays of the firehouse in a safe, well-orchestrated and incredibly efficient assembly.
“The use of the firehouse is a critical part of the entire process and we are so appreciative of the firemen and their support of our efforts”, said the cookie team leads, Pat Szary, Michelle Tomenchok and Dana Shapiro, who coordinated the cookie sale across 48 Hillsborough troops, which culminated in cookie distribution day.
The firemen really make Girl Scouts feel welcome and there is a real sense of sharing community resources. Girl Scout cookies are a 100-year tradition, and an opportunity for young girls to learn important business skills. “We enjoy helping the troops learn how to work hard and earn money that they can put toward their troop activities.”
Girl Scouts in Hillsborough is an active and busy organization with hundreds of school-aged girls participating and several hundred adult volunteers coordinating activities and leading troops. Girl Scouts start in kindergarten and continue through high school.
If you would like more information on Girl Scouts and how girls can get involved, check out the website at www.borogirlscouts.org. or write to
Girl Scouts Ashley and Isabelle Tomenchok show thanks by presenting a gift of Girl Scout cookies to the members of Firehouse No.2