Due to the pandemic, the Girl Scouts have been experiencing a 50% shortfall in cookie sales. This is because of reduced foot traffic, and the limited ability to sell cookies in person. Now, Google’s delivery service “Wing” has teamed up with a Girl Scout group in Christiansburg, Virginia, to run America’s very first and only residential drone delivery service.
With delivery available via drone, Christiansburg residents can get classic cookies like Thin Mints and Peanut Butter Patties dropped directly at their front door.
In addition, Wing is working with local scouts to show them how drone technology works, hoping to inspire the girls to pursue careers in STEM.
Residents can order the cookies until the end of May, using the Wing app or the website. The company has committed to selling 3,000 boxes of cookies before then, and so far, the best-sellers are the Thin Mints.
Wing global communications lead Lia Reich said in a statement to USA TODAY: “Even with loosening COVID restrictions, the traditional method of selling cookies outside of grocery stores or shops is difficult this year. It was a natural fit to partner with the Girl Scouts to help out in this situation.”
A cookie delivery via drone can be done in minutes, without adding to traffic congestion. And energy-wise, Wing says drones are about 10x as efficient as electric vehicles, and over 50x more efficient than gasoline-powered vehicles.
The company believes this program will continue to grow, and drones could one day be delivering even more cookies.
“I expect that the future is going to have an opportunity for drones to be delivering to everyone across the country,” Reich said. “I think this is just a really great microcosm of what that can look like as we prep for the future.”
Watch below the excitement the Girl Scouts have with their partnership with Wing.
