Activity Description: Youth decide how to give back with their cookie money by voting on a community idea and setting a goal.
Items Needed:
- Community Giving Ideas on the Sample Goal Ideas for GSUSA by The Badge Archive
- (Optional) Voting materials such as beads, sticky notes, or ballot slips
- (Optional) Contact information for local organizations
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 10–20 min):
- Share giving ideas. (5–6 min)
- Present options such as donating food to a pantry or making treats for an animal shelter. Add other ideas suggested by youth.
- Vote on favorite Giving Goals. (5–6 min)
- Youth vote by raising hands, placing stickers, or using tokens. Or read each idea aloud and ask youth to clap for the ones they like best. Count claps to see which ideas are most popular.
- Count votes and announce the top choice. Record the giving goal so the group can follow it later.
- See GSUSA – D/B/J Voting or GSUSA – Teen Scout Voting for more details on how to vote.
- (Optional) Plan a connection. (5–6 min)
- Talk about how giving back helps the community.
- If possible, schedule a visit to the chosen organization or invite a representative to meet the troop. Encourage youth to meet the people there and learn about their work.
- Discuss if the organization allows volunteering when youth are older.
Additional Ideas:
Food Security & Hunger Relief
- Full Thanksgiving Meals: Purchasing and donating complete holiday meal kits for families through veteran or community groups.
- Blessing Box Adoption: Adopting and physically maintaining a local community “blessing box” with a consistent supply of items.
- Porch Pick-Up Drives: A specific coordination method using paper grocery sacks and printed notes for neighborhood-wide collections.
- Cereal-Specific Drives: A focused “cereal drive”.
Supporting “Local Heroes”
- School Backpack Programs: Donating snacks or cookies specifically to school district programs that support food-insecure students.
- Badge Helper Gifts: Using cookies as a formal “thank you” gift for subject matter experts or community members who help the youth.
Animal Welfare & Wildlife
- Handmade Cat Scratchers: A specific craft-based donation for animal shelters.
- Specialized Animal Rescues: Expanding beyond general shelters to include bunny rescues, horse rescues, or the SPCA.
- Wildlife Conservation: Directing funds toward the protection of endangered species, such as porpoises.
Vulnerable Youth & Foster Care
- Luggage Drives: Providing new or gently used luggage for children in foster care to use during transitions, rather than trash bags.
- Foster Youth Holiday Gifts: A targeted “Giving Tree” style project specifically for local foster youth.
- Recovery Center Hygiene Bags: Assembling kits specifically for local recovery and health centers.
Seniors & Veterans
- Bingo Prizes: Donating cookies to nursing homes specifically to be used as prizes for resident activities.
- Intergenerational Visits: Including “active” service like visiting facilities to sing or do crafts with residents.
- Veteran’s Hospital Boxes: Specific donation boxes for Veterans Hospitals.
Environmental & Community Impact
- Memorial Beautification: Planting and maintaining flowers at local historical memorials or landmarks.
- Monarch Butterfly Gardens: Building specialized planter boxes designed to support pollinator migrations.
- Unhoused Blessing Bags: Essential hygiene and care kits specifically designed for those experiencing homelessness.
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Click Here -> See what GSUSA Requirements could be met in Goals Category
Leaders – please be aware of double dipping and make your own informed choice.
Info Needed for Set Goals: Brainstorm ideas, pick one to make a troop sales goal, and set your personal goal.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Daisy My First Cookie Business badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Daisy Cookie Goal Setter badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Brownie My Cookie Customers badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Brownie Cookie Decision Maker badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Junior My Cookie Team badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Junior Cookie Collaborator badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Cadette My Cookie Venture badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Cadette Cookie Market Researcher badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Cadette Cookie Innovator badge requirements.
Info Needed for Budget Goals: Set a troop goal and budget and get feedback
- Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Junior Cookie Collaborator badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Senior My Cookie Network badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 1 of GSUSA Ambassador My Cookie Business Resume badge requirements.
This activity does not meet any Scouting America Requirements
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For More Fun Ideas and Plans
Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)
Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)
See other Recommended Facebook Groups for some Scouting Organizations
(No official Groups)
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Click Here -> To see information References:
Disclaimer: The information published on Youth Activity Archive and The Badge Archive is built from the references listed below. These sources demonstrate that our content is grounded in facts and research, not opinion or speculation. Readers may consult them directly when looking for additional material.
- Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. “Volunteer Toolkit Explore.” Girlscouts.org, my.girlscouts.org/content/girlscouts-vtk/en/vtk.explore.html. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
- Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!
- Return to the Set Goals Category
- Return to the Budget Goals Category
- Return to the G.S. Cookies Category
