Good Enough to be True: You really can order cookies from Girl Scouts in NYC’s shelter system

The harbingers of spring include flowers blooming, sunsets happening later in the evening and Girl Scouts selling cookies. 

Cookie enthusiasts, especially those who don’t know any local Girl Scouts, might have seen posts on social media promoting a way to order cookies as part of a Girl Scout program for girls in homeless shelters in New York City.

"If you need Girl Scout cookies this year and don’t have a local troop to support, please consider buying from Troop 6000, which is entirely made up of girls living in NYC’s homeless shelters," read a screenshot of a viral 2021 Tweet that’s been shared widely online this year, too. 

If you need Girl Scout cookies this year and don’t have a local troop to support, please consider buying from Troop 6000, which is entirely made up of girls living in NYC’s homeless shelters. https://t.co/ySvlUGaqmt

— Chris Darden (@cbdarden) January 28, 2021

We saw many people sharing information about Troop 6000 in New York, including one Feb. 3 post, which featured the screenshotted tweet and was shared more than 100,000 times on Facebook. Dozens of others were shared on Instagram, Twitter and on other platforms.

And we learned it’s Good Enough to Be True: Troop 6000 exists — and it sells cookies. This year’s cookie sale continues until May 14.

Our occasional Good Enough to Be True stories are intended to highlight social media claims about uplifting news that would earn a True rating on our Truth-O-Meter. 

Girl Scouts of Greater New York’s Troop 6000 was created to serve families living in temporary housing in New York City’s shelter system. The troop’s members attend weekly meetings held in more than 20 shelters around the city, according to the troop website. Troop 6000 members earn badges, make friends, take field trips, visit workplaces and participate in the annual Girl Scout Cookie sale, the site says.

Anyone can buy cookies from Troop 6000, and all of the proceeds from each box sold directly support the Scouts’ troop experience, the website says.

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The money "is used to pay for things like badge activity supplies, uniforms, field trips and trips to Girl Scout Camp," reads the site. "Like all Girl Scouts, Troop 6000 members work together to set goals and to decide how their cookie profits are spent."

Patches cover the back of a Girl Scout's vest at a demonstration of some of their activities in Seattle, June 18, 2018. (AP)

There are about 12,000 girls living in New York City Shelters, according to Troop 6000. On average, families stay in New York City shelters for 18 months.

"Our mission is to champion girl ambition," a Girl Scouts of the USA spokesperson said in a statement. "We are extremely proud of the work our councils are doing to find new and innovative solutions to reach into their communities and bring the Girl Scout experience to as many girls as possible, including unhoused girls, girls on Native American reservations, girls with special needs and more."

The troop in New York City isn’t the only one that was created so those who are experiencing homelessness can be Girl Scouts. 

Similar troops exist in Tennessee, Iowa, California and Washington, according to a spokesperson for Girl Scouts of the USA. 

Cookie sale dates vary among troops. Many have concluded cookie sales for the season, making Troop 6000 in New York City the go-to cookie source for anyone who wants to support these initiatives right now.

We rate claims that people can buy Girl Scout Cookies from a troop of Scouts who live in New York City shelters Good Enough to be True!

See a post that might make a great Good Enough to be True story? Send it to [email protected]. We choose claims that pique our curiosity and fit our Truth-O-Meter definition of True.