LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A pair of Girl Scout sisters in Colorado is learning to embrace the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as they kick-off the season of Girl Scout cookies.
Hailey, 11, and 8-year-old Peyton Pearson have been Girl Scouts for at least three years. The girls are a part of Troop 66517.
On Sunday, they began selling Girl Scout cookies. However, this year is unlike any other.
Instead of selling the cookies outside of grocery stores or going door to door, the girls are standing off to the side of a busy road in Lakewood.
"I'm excited that we still get to sell," said Hailey.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced all Girl Scouts in Colorado to find unique ways to sell their share of cookies.
Hailey and Peyton decided to put on a drive-thru style selling booth off the side of Alameda Avenue and Garrison Street.
"We're doing like a drive-thru this year, so people can get out of their cars, but we ask to wear a mask and stay socially distant," said Hailey.
Along with location changes, the girls also had to adjust the goal of how many cookie boxes they wanted to sell.
Last year, each sister sold more than 2,000 boxes of cookies. This year, that number is much smaller.
"This year, they're shooting for 400, to jut get back out there and so something that's kind of normal to them," said Tricia Pearson, the girls' mom.
Although it's a goal Peyton would much rather have higher, she said she's glad she can at least sell some cookies. She added she's even more glad to have her dad nearby, who encourages the sisters with his moves.
"He dances with me," said Peyton.
The girls plan to meet their goal of selling 400 boxes of Girl Scout cookies each within the next six weeks. They plan on being near Alameda Avenue and Garrison Street next weekend, as well.