My, Malinda Schmidt, highest sale was 551 boxes (thanks to my dad for taking the order form to work) and I earned an original Nintendo video game system.
I was in Girl Scouts most of my elementary years under the leadership of Margaret Dunbar. Meetings were mostly held at Antwerp School and then moved to Antwerp VFW. I earned several badges, participated in several sleepovers and camps. Eventually I became a member of a Paulding troop under the leadership of the late Ellen Townley. Under Ellen Townley, I earned my Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. I created a book of poems written by Paulding County area youths. At one time, the book was available to view at all Paulding County Carnegie library locations. Two classmates followed the Girl Scouting journey with me, Sarah Schott (Laisure) and Renee Dunbar.
Madison is currently at 642 boxes. She started Girl Scouts as a Daisy when she was 5 years old under the leadership of Traci O’Donnell. Traci’s girls grew older and she decided to step back as a leader. At that time, Theresa Conley and I decided to team up and become leaders to our daughters’ troop.
Madison has earned several badges and fun patches throughout the years. Her favorite activity is participating in community service projects. Although, the year she went to camp and learned how to throw a tomahawk axe, shoot a bow and arrow and sling shot is her all time favorite Girl Scout memory. Last year, Madison and two of her troopmates, Lucy and Kara, earned their Bronze Award. The Bronze Award is the highest award that Girl Scout Junior can earn. The girls created a news article about the signs and symptoms of the coronavirus and each girl created 5 goodies bags to hand out to essential workers. Madison also created 13 ‘Heros Work Here’ signs and distributed them throughout the county. The last part of the project never came to fruitation due to COVID. The girls collected books, labeled them with AR information and bagged them to hide throughout the community for kids to find and read. The books are ready to go this summer if we get the green light!
Madison has increased her cookie sales each year she has sold. This year, she set a goal of 500 boxes. When she realized she was close to her goal, she told me she changed her goal to 552, one more than my all time highest sale. We were unsure at the beginning if she was even going to sell 500 boxes because of all the limitations due to the virus. Madison sold to several people via paper order form, she created an online store front, sent order forms with both Michael and I to work and Madison used my facebook messenger to hook up with people we personally know but do not see on a regular basis. Madison even wrote and sent a letter to a few county organizations to seek support of the Cookies for a Cause campaign. This campaign delivers cookies to the military, health care workers, food pantries and veterans. Her letter writing campaign enticed 3 local organizations to donate. Madison says: “Much appreciation for supporting this great cause.”
Madison’s troop hopes to use the proceeds to go on a camping trip. We planned to do this last summer, but it was cancelled due to restrictions.
