Hosting a Cookie Booth During Election Week

October 31-November 8, 2026

Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania is excited to kick off the 2026-2027 Girl Scout Cookie Program with booth sales during the week of the general election!

The benefits:

Customers can stock up on their favorite Girl Scout Cookies
Girl Scout troops earn proceeds for the new Girl Scout year.
Girls gain booth-sale experience (perfect for new Girl Scout troops and young Girl Scouts!)
Girl Scouts practice the five skills of the Girl Scout Cookie Program—goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

Get started with this Quick Start Guide (coming soon)!

Questions? 🙋‍♀️
Join us online for open office hours, where you can ask your questions live to our product program team. You're welcome to drop in, ask what you need, and leave whenever you're ready. We'll send you a reminder email with all the details on how to join as the date approaches.

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 5-6 p.m. Join. Passcode: FP2R2n2N

Fast Facts toggle arrow

Election Week Cookie Program Timeline
Sept. 23-28: Troops place cookie orders in eBudde
Week of Oct. 26: Troops pick up cookie orders from selected cupboards (Cupboards will have varying dates and times for pick-ups.)
Oct. 31-Nov. 8: Booth sales at local businesses, polling places, and community events
Week of Nov. 16: Troops return unsold cookies to cupboards (Cupboards will have varying dates and times for returns.)
Dec. 3: ACH sweep occurs

All cookies are $6 per package.

Booth sales can be held from Oct. 31-Nov. 8, 2026.
The following cookie varieties will be available: Adventurefuls™, Lemon-Ups®, Trefoils®, Do-si-dos®, Samoas®, Tagalongs®, Exploremores™, and Thin Mints®. Toffee-tastic® will not be available for this program. Girl Scouts can also offer customers the opportunity to purchase cookies for their Troop Gift of Caring organization.
Troop participation eligibility: A troop must have a current ACH Electronic Debit/Credit Authorization form on file to participate and order cookies.
No EWCP Rewards: The purpose of this program is for troops to earn additional start-up proceeds for the new Girl Scout year. Cookie rewards are not awarded, nor do these cookies sold count towards rewards for the cookie program.
Ordering cookies: Troops will order cookies by placing an order to a cupboard in eBudde. Only the cookies ordered by the troop will be available for sale. Additional cookies will not be purchased from the baker for this program.
EWCP is a risk-free way to earn extra proceeds! Troops can return any unsold cookies—packages or cases (in new condition)—to council offices. Troops only pay for cookies not returned!
Payment to council will be via ACH payment from the troop’s bank account on Dec. 3, 2026. Participating troops must have their ACH Electronic Debit/Credit Authorization form on file with council. You do not need to submit a new form unless your banking information has changed. If you do not have a form on file, please submit an ACH Electronic Debit/Credit Authorization form no later than Sept. 21, 2026. Troops will not be able to place a cookie order to participate in the Election Week Cookie Program if ACH information is not on file with council.

Helpful Tips

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The Election Week Cookie Program is an opportunity for troops to host booth sales and earn proceeds to start the new Girl Scout year, for girls to gain booth-sale experience, and for customers to enjoy Girl Scout Cookies another time during the year.
Because EWCP is a troop sale, individual girls will not be listed in eBudde as there are no cookie allocations.
In-person booths at local businesses, polling places, or community events are permitted. Big-box stores are not permitted during this sale. Troops are responsible for securing their own booth locations.
All Girl Scouts participating in EWCP must be registered for the 2026-2027 membership year.
Because EWCP is intended to be a community sale, there will be no council-level marketing, nor will booth locations be listed on the GSUSA Cookie Finder.
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania encourages troops to explore using a swipe device to accept credit cards at booth sales. Please note: Council will NOT reimburse swipe fees for the Election Week Cooke Program. Accepting credit cards and paying all fees associated is a troop decision.

Cookie Booth Review

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Cookie booths are girl-operated, direct-sale opportunities where customers purchase cookies from the troop.

Booth sales can be scheduled for Oct. 31-Nov. 8, 2026, for the Election Week Cookie Program.
Troops may approach small local businesses, (i.e. local hair salons, small gift shops, family-owned businesses, etc.), and your local polling locations.
All Girl Scout grade levels can participate in booth sales.
An adequate volunteer-to-girl ratio is required at all cookie booths.

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Polling locations would make a great booth spot; however, troops are welcome to set up booth sales at other locations throughout their communities. Booths may only be set up at local businesses and not large-box retail stores.

Large box retail stores are defined as a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a national chain, that occupies a large, box-like building. Walmart, Giant Eagle, Sam's Club, Costco, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. would be some examples. If you are not sure about a location, please reach out for clarification.

This program is conducted at the troop level, so there isn't a site location approval process.

We encourage volunteers to use their best judgment in setting up cookie booths in locations that will be open, accessible, and safe for all girls and potential customers.

Certain locations may be inappropriate for girls based on the standards of the local community, may negatively impact the cookie program experience for girls, and/or may negatively impact the Girl Scout Cookie brand in the community.
For additional clarity, girls should NOT sell in front of establishments that they themselves cannot legally patronize.

Cookie Booth Etiquette toggle arrow

Check in with the store management when you arrive. They’ll let you know where you’ll be located. Be careful not to block doorways and entrances.
Girls should not yell at or disrupt customers.
Girls should be smiling and make eye contact, ready to greet potential customers in a welcoming way.
Girls should be wearing their Girl Scout sash or vest (or other Girl Scout apparel).
There should be appropriate adult supervision.
Girls must stay at their designated booth location. No wandering through the store or other nearby areas.
Signage should be neat, clearly identify the booth as a Girl Scout Cookie Booth, and include the troop number.
There should be a sign showcasing the troop’s goals.
The table should be neat and clean with cookie varieties on display.
Leave the area cleaner than you found it. Do not leave anything behind (empty boxes, bags, paper, pens, etc.).

Additional Program Information

Ordering, Picking Up, and Returning Unsold Cookies toggle arrow

Troops MUST place a cupboard order in eBudde to have cookies for the program!

Ordering cookies
- Troops will order cookies by placing an order to a cupboard in eBudde. Only the cookies ordered by the troop will be available for sale. Additional cookies will not be purchased from the baker for this program.
- Only cookies picked up for the 2026 Election Week Cookie Program may be sold. Cookies from previous programs, including the 2025-2026 cookie program, may NOT be sold.
Picking up cookies
- Cookies must be picked up from the selected cupboard the week of Oct. 26, 2026. (Cupboards will have varying dates and times for pick-ups.) You will select a cupboard location and date when you enter your order in eBudde.
Returning unsold cookies
- All cookies picked up for the Election Week Cookie Program but not sold by the last day of the sale (Nov. 8, 2026) can be returned.
- Returns—packages and cases (in new condition)—will be accepted the week of Nov. 16, 2026. (Cupboards will have varying dates and times for returns.)
- If you do not return unsold cookies, your troop will be charged for the cookies in the sweep that will take place on Dec. 3.
- Any unsold cookies not returned to a cupboard cannot be sold until after your traditional sale delivery occurs. Remember, the EWCP cookies do not count towards rewards, and you would have only earned the base proceeds rate from this program.

Cookie Cupboards

Addresses for cupboard locations can be found in eBudde.

Cupboard Name	Pick-Ups	Returns
Laurel Highlands Girl Scout Office	Yes	Yes
Corrigan Moving Systems Warehouse	Yes	NO
Edinboro Girl Scout Office	Yes	Yes
Sharpsville	Yes	Yes
McMurray	Yes	NO
Hollidaysburg	Yes	Yes
Butler	Yes	Yes
Indiana Area	Yes	NO
Montour	Yes	NO
Cheswick	Yes	NO
Pittsburgh	NO	Yes
Greensburg Former Girl Scout Office	Yes	Yes

Troop Gift of Caring toggle arrow

Troop Gift of Caring is optional.
Troops can select an organization to donate cookies to.
- Encourage customers to make donations of cookies to the troop.
- Donated cookies are $6 per package.
- Donated cookies should be delivered to the organization at the end of the EWCP.

Election Week Cookie Sale Finances toggle arrow

Troops earn $1.00 per package in troop proceeds for all packages sold, including packages sold for Troop Gift of Caring.
Participating troops must have their ACH Electronic Debit/Credit Authorization form on file with the council to participate in the sale.
Payment to council from the troop for the Election Week Cookie Program will be via ACH payment on Dec. 3, 2026.