The 2023 Girl Scouts River Valleys Cookie Program begins February 17 and ends March 26.
There are four types of cookie cupboards where Girl Scouts River Valleys troops can pick up additional cookie inventory after the initial order:
- Council On-Demand Cookie Cupboards:
Located in warehouse spaces and open to all troops. There are eight Council Cookie Cupboards, with six in the Twin Cities Metro, one in Mankato, and one in Rochester. - Council Express Cookie Cupboards: For these locations, place your exact order (in case only) for quick and easy pick up.
- Orders will be due in Smart Cookies on Monday by 8:00 am (CST) and you will be able to schedule a time for pick up on Thursday or Friday. These locations will be open the first three weeks of the sale. No changes are allowed to planned orders at these locations, plus, no exchanges can be made. You must pick up the exact amount of your planned order.
- Regional Cookie Cupboards:
Assigned to troops in service units without close proximity to a Council Cookie Cupboard. Troops are required to place a planned order by Monday at 8:00 am for pick up later in the same week. - Regional Express Cookie Cupboards:
Similar to regional cookie cupboards but are in closer proximity to a Council Cookie Cupboard. Troops are required to place a planned order by Monday at 8:00 am (CST) for pick up later in the same week. These cupboards close after the third week of the sale.
General FAQs for All Cupboards
What hours/days are cupboards open?
Available through Cookie Central, view the Council Cupboard Map and Cookie Cupboard Reference Sheet ahead of your visit. For troops that utilize Regional/Regional Express Cupboards, the information on hours of operation are located on the Smart Cookies dashboard.
What should I expect when visiting a Council On-Demand Cookie Cupboard?
These cupboards employ temporary staff during the cookie season to work in the warehouse locations. Staff will greet you, record vehicle information, and take the order on a tablet. The staff will send the order to the warehouse for staff to pull the cookies on carts, then return to your vehicle to load the cookies for you. Please remain in your vehicle. You’ll receive a paper copy of a receipt, which you can use to verify the order totals. Once your order is loaded you may exit the location.
Who can pick up an order?
It is strongly recommended that only registered troop cookie managers and troop leaders pick up cookies from the cupboard, because the troop is financially responsible for cookies picked up from cupboards. However, a registered volunteer can designate a parent/guardian in the troop to pick-up from the cupboard if a registered troop cookie manager or leader is unable to do so. The troop cookie manager or troop leader must authorize any and all inventory pick-ups from a cookie cupboard.
Can I pick up cases or packages at a cupboard?
Troops can pick up cookies by the case or the package at all council on-demand cookie cupboards and regional/regional express cupboard. The council express cupboards require cookies to be picked up in full cases.
What should I do before I pick up my order?
Prior to visiting any cupboard, be sure to clear your vehicle of obstacles so the staff can load the cookies safely and efficiently.
- Before visiting an on-demand cupboard, have your order ready prior to your visit with totals by variety in cases and packages. If another volunteer/adult will be picking up cookies on your behalf, you can forward the email to them.
- Before visiting a planned order cupboard, print out the planned order from Smart Cookies.
Can I return cookies or exchange cookies at a cupboard?
No, cookies cannot be returned to a cupboard, nor can sealed cases be exchanged at a cupboard for other varieties. If you have damaged cookies, you may bring them to a council or regional cupboard for an exchange. Council express cupboards are unable to replace damaged cookies. If your troop finds that you have extra inventory, connect with your service unit cookie manager and/or visit the cookie swap to find troops looking for more cookies.
Council On-Demand Cupboard FAQs
Where are the Council Cookie Cupboard locations?
Available through Cookie Central, view the Council Cupboard Map and Cookie Cupboard Reference Sheet ahead of your visit to view the address, directions, and flow of traffic.
Note: It is important to note there are two cupboards in Burnsville: an on-demand cupboard and the Burnsville Express Cupboard. These cupboards have differing days/hours of operation
Do I need to make an appointment to visit a council on-demand cupboard?
No appointment is needed to pick up cookies at any of the on-demand cupboard locations. These cupboards are often busiest when they open for business. The cupboard staff will do their best to move you through the line as quickly as possible. If you are in a hurry, we suggest arriving at off-peak times, such as 2:00 pm weekdays and 10:00 am on weekends.
How will I know the cupboard has enough cookies?
Girl Scouts River Valleys will post any inventory alerts on the Cookie Cupboards reference page. You’ll also find a link to this page from Cookie Central. You can select your cupboard location’s icon on the Council Cupboard Map and it will expand additional information on the cupboard, including any inventory alerts. For Council Express Cupboards, your planned order of cookies will be in stock. Should there be any inventory issues at a Council Express Cupboard, Girl Scouts River Valleys will notify any affected troops. For Regional/Regional Express cupboards, contact your cupboard manager for any inventory questions.
What should I expect when visiting a Council Cookie Cupboard?
Council Cookie Cupboards employ temporary staff during the cookie season to work in the warehouse locations. Staff will greet you, record vehicle information, and take the order on a tablet. The staff will send the order to the warehouse for staff to pull the cookies on carts, then return to your vehicle to load the cookies for you. Please remain in your vehicle. If your vehicle requires staff to be in close contact with you, you may be asked to exit the vehicle or load the order yourself. You’ll receive a paper copy of a receipt, which you can use to verify the order totals. Once your order is loaded you may exit the location.
How do cookies get transferred to my troop after they are picked up at a cupboard?
A transaction will take place in Smart Cookies to transfer cookies to your troop in the system, either through a Cupboard to Troop transaction or by approving/editing a planned order. The troop contact will receive an email to confirm the transfer. You can view your Troop Transfer Order Report and filter for Troop to Cupboard transfers or view the Troop to Cupboard transfer(s) on the Manage Orders screen by filtering for those transfer(s).
What if the number of cookies I received does not match Smart Cookies?
If any errors occur with your cupboard transaction, complete the online Cookie Cupboard Error Report Form and a member of the Girl Scouts River Valleys staff will follow up with you.
Planned Order Cupboards (Council Express & Regional) FAQs
When are planned orders due and when can I pick up my cookies?
Planned orders are due Monday mornings by 8:00 a.m. for all Regional, Regional Express, and Council Express Cupboards. The planned order schedule is below:
Planned Order Deadline | Pick-up Dates |
---|---|
Monday, February 20 at 8:00 am | February 23-24 |
Monday, February 27 at 8:00 am | March 2-3 |
Monday, March 6 at 8:00 am * | March 9-10 |
Monday, March 13 at 8:00 am | March 16-17 |
Monday, March 20 at 8:00 am | March 23-24 |
If your troop utilizes a Regional or Regional Express Cupboard, refer to the Smart Cookies dashboard message for information on the cupboard hours of operation-not all locations may be open on Cookie Go Day weekend. The dashboard also features the contact information for the cupboard manager. If you need cookies immediately, connect with that volunteer to see if they can assist you ahead of the first planned order deadline.
Regional and Regional Express Cupboards will have a pick-up date of Thursday and a pick-up time of 7:00 – 7:30 am. This is not the day and time to pick up cookies, rather, it is a default setting used for the troops to place the order in Smart Cookies
Who can place a planned order?
Troop cookie managers or troop leaders in Smart Cookies can place a planned order for their troop. Visit our Smart Cookies Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to place a planned order.
Can I edit or delete my planned order information?
You can edit your planned order until the planned order deadline. View the instructions in the Smart Cookies Guide. If you need to delete your planned order, contact Girl Scouts River Valleys. Order locations and times cannot be changed after the Monday 8 a.m. deadline of the week that you are picking up the order.
Troops can also increase (depending on cupboard inventory) or decrease their order upon arrival at the planned order cupboards, except the Council Express Cupboards, where troops must pick up their exact order.
Do I need to order in full cases at a cupboard that requires a planned order?
Planned orders can be made in cases/packages at Regional or Regional Express Cupboards. Council Express Cupboards only allow full case pick-ups.
What will happen once you arrive at the planned order cupboard?
At a Council Express Cupboard, when you arrive during your scheduled timeframe, an order taker will greet you to confirm your order. You should verify the count of the cookies, then the staff will sign the a troop signature sheet on your behalf. The troop contact will receive an email from Smart Cookies once a planned order is approved. Please allow at least 24 hours for the transaction to appear in Smart Cookies. For a copy of a receipt, you can also take a photo of the troop signature sheet with your smartphone or print a copy of your planned order and bring it to the cupboard for the staff to sign.
At a Regional or Regional Express Cupboard, your cupboard manager will prepare a receipt. Verify the count of the cookies against the receipt.
What happens if I can’t make it to my scheduled time/day at a Council Express Cupboard?
If you are unable to arrive at the scheduled time, no problem! The inventory will still be available for you on that same day. If you do not pick up your order within the same day, your order gets absorbed into the cupboard inventory.
What happens if I don’t pick up my planned order?
Any orders not picked up on their specified day will be absorbed back into cupboard inventory. Cookies cannot be returned to the baker, so please be mindful of this when placing a planned order.
If you have additional questions or need assistance with your specific order feel free to contact us.