Richmond-based London Drugs has helped raise over $900,000 for Girl Guides across the country, selling nearly 200,000 boxes of the organization’s famous chocolate and vanilla cookies.
The company stepped in to help with the Girl Guides' largest annual fundraiser in March, when COVID-19 left members unable to sell the cookies in their usual public locals or door-to-door, as people were instructed to stay home and physically distance.
London Drugs opened up shelf space for the cookies at its 82 stores across Western Canada, as well as online – the first time that Girl Guide cookies have been sold almost exclusively through retailers.
Clint Mahlman, London Drugs’ president and chief operating officer, said it was a “special honour” to have been able to help out with the annual fundraiser.
“Many families across Canada, including my own, have had a connection to the Girl Guides at some point in our lives,” he said, in a statement.
All of the proceeds from the cookie sales went back to the Girl Guides, who rely on income from the fundraiser to sustain their programs.
“We are grateful to London Drugs for providing us with a safe distribution network to sell our cookies, which has helped raise critical funds to support Guiding activities locally and across the country,” said Diamond Isinger, the Girl Guides provincial commissioner for B.C., in a statement.
A total of 180,000 boxes were sold, raising $905,540 for the Girl Guides.
“Being able to quickly offer assistance with the sale of Girl Guide cookies during the COVID-19 pandemic was the right thing to do,” said Mahlman.
“And because our customers enthusiastically supported the cause by purchasing boxes of cookies at London Drugs, Girl Guides of Canada now have financial support to help fund their programs for girls and young women in communities across Canada.”
Girl Guides have been selling cookies since 1927.
