Over 800 boxes of Girl Guide cookies are heading to local non-profits courtesy another sizeable donation from the anonymous "cookie guy". (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

NEED MORE MILK

‘Cookie guy’ purchases over 17k Girl Guide cookies from Nanaimo troop

Oct 11, 2021 | 6:50 AM

NANAIMO — The region’s anonymous “cookie guy” is at it again.

For the fourth time in the last two years, the Cedar branch of Girl Guides have benefitted from a sizeable purchase of their cookie inventory, raising money for activities through the rest of the year.

Sarah Bramley, Cedar sparks and brownies troop leader, said as with the other donations, “cookie guy” isn’t keeping a single crumb of the 864 boxes, or 17,280 individual cookies, he purchased.

“He’s asking the girls to learn about community services here in the Cedar and Nanaimo area and the girls are going to be able to donate those and learn about the need that’s in the community and why it’s important with the gift of giving.”

The Cedar sparks division of the Girl Guides has 10 members aged five or six years old, while the attached brownies division has 18 girls aged seven or eight.

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Bramley added through the $4,320 donation, the girls learn about various community groups helping people in the region and get a better understanding of Nanaimo as a community.

The cookies will go to Tillicum Lelum, Loaves and Fishes Food Bank and the Nanaimo Non-Profit Housing Society to hand out to their respective clients.

“It’s going to people that wouldn’t necessarily be able to buy one of those boxes of cookies, but maybe a treat they usually wouldn’t be able to get, having cookies in their house.”

Prior to the most recent purchase, “cookie guy” said his motivation behind the generosity was to inspire others to give within their means.

“I hope other people can identify somewhere within their life, within their means that they can do something that is for other people,” he told NanaimoNewsNOW in October 2020. “It doesn’t need to be money, it can be an action, just find someone you can help and do it.”

Including his most recent purchase, “cookie guy” has paid local Girl Guides over $10,000 for cookies which were distributed to local non-profits.

Despite the cookie campaign success for Cedar, Girl Guide troops across the region are facing a new challenge as the winter months come.

Many indoor meeting places such as schools or community halls are not renting to groups, due to the extra cleaning and precautions required during COVID-19.

“Cookie guy” added an extra $1,000 to help the Cedar troop offset their increased rental costs, but the money does little without a place to rent.

Recent meetings have taken place at the WHEATY baseball fields.

“With the changing weather, the girls have to dress appropriately and we can’t always host our meetings the way we need to and be able to engage the girls properly…because we don’t have the proper facility,” Bramley said.

The group needs an indoor setting with heat and access to bathrooms.

School District 68 told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re currently only accepting outdoor rentals for their facilities.

A district spokesperson said they are working within their health and safety guidelines to offer indoor rentals soon, but couldn’t offer a timeline on when that may occur.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley