The Weehawken Junior Girl Scout Troop 2933 and Brownie Troop 2236 have always done its fair share when it comes to community involvement. Whether it’s protecting the environment or learning about fire protection, the eager young ladies are there to help the community.
Since the girls are getting a little older, troop leader Lisa Zentner wondered whether it would be a good idea if the girls tackled a more mature issue that affects everyone, namely cancer. And considering that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it would be a perfect time for the young ladies to address the issue of helping to fight breast cancer.
So when the diligent Girl Scouts heard about the “Strength in Numbers” charity event that will take place Monday night at Paula’s at Rigoletto restaurant on Park Avenue, with all the proceeds going to the Hackensack University Cancer Center, they wanted to help out.
“They’re going to help with the desserts and they’re making strawberries dipped in pink chocolate,” Zentner said. “The girls are also helping to make decorations for the event, making paper pink roses and paper pink carnations.”
But in the eyes of some of the Girl Scouts, that simply wasn’t enough.
Six-year-old Chloe Baker suggested that the Girl Scouts could sell pink lemonade and cookies.
“My sister (Kyra) and I sold lemonade in front of our house last summer,” little Chloe said. “I just thought we could do the same thing, except sell pink lemonade for the cancer people. Both of my Grandpas got cancer this year, so it was very important to me. I just thought we could sell pink lemonade.”
The ideas of children can sometimes be the best.
“I said, ‘Why not?’,” Zentner said. “I loved the idea and we ran with it. Here she is, a 6-year-old coming up with an idea like this. It was amazing.”
So the Troop 2933 spent one night last week baking toll house chocolate chip cookies and making pink lemonade. They then approached NY Waterway to see if it would be fine to sell the pink lemonade and cookies near the ferry terminal at Lincoln Harbor, adjacent to Riva Pointe and the Sheraton Suites Hotel.
“The NY Waterway people were wonderful,” Zentner said. “They couldn’t have been more gracious to allow us to do it. The girls didn’t put a price on the lemonade or the cookies. They just wanted a donation, anything that the people could give.”
“We made 63 packs of chocolate chip cookies, three in a pack, and we wrapped the cookies in a pink ribbon,” said 9-year-old Chase Jennings. “We had a lot of fun making the cookies. While we were making them, everyone had at least one cookie.”
Last Tuesday afternoon, the girls from the Weehawken Girl Scouts greeted the Manhattan commuters bound for Weehawken and vice versa with pink lemonade and cookies.
Needless to say, when the commuters realized what the cause was for, the pockets were emptying.
“People were so happy to see the girls out there,” Zentner said. “One man couldn’t believe his eyes. He had to call his girl friend on the cell, because he didn’t think Girl Scouts actually existed. Everyone thought it was delightful.”
Zentner said that she was really moved when a few cancer survivors approached the girls and thanked them for their efforts.
“There were a couple tears shed,” Zentner said. “People were really moved. I know I shed a few myself. I think everyone was just so touched by their efforts. The whole thing was run by the girls. The leaders took a backseat and just watched them work. It really was amazing.”
Some of the passersby didn’t even want the lemonade or the cookies. They just threw money into the bucket as a sign of support.
“These weren’t Girl Scout cookies they were selling,” Zentner said. “These were their own homemade cookies, made by them.”
In just an hour’s work, the enterprising young ladies raised almost $300.
“I think the true spirit of what they wanted to do was captured,” Zentner said.
“The people were so generous and I think the girls put smiles on their faces,” said leader Heather Baker, the mother of Chloe, who came up with the pink lemonade idea. “I think it was a fun event and it was for a good cause.”
The girls had a lot of fun being young entrepreneurs.
“It felt great doing what we did,” said 9-year-old Mia Zentner, the daughter of Lisa. “It’s really surprising that we made so much money in just an hour. The people didn’t really buy the lemonade or the cookies. They just gave us money. It really feels great. If I become a scientist, I hope I can find a cure for cancer. For now, this is the hardest I can try to help.”
Nine-year-old Ellis Jennings echoed those feelings.
“I’m just glad we could help,” Ellis Jennings said. “I’m glad that other people joined in and helped. The people were saying that we were cute and nice, so that was nice to hear. They were glad that we were doing this.”
And as for the littlest one, whose idea the heartwarming day was all about, Chloe Baker just smiled and took it all in.
“We never had this much success selling the lemonade in front of our house,” Chloe said. “I’m pretty proud of myself.”
As well she should be.