Virginia Girl Scout troop uses drones to pass pandemic hurdles

Pivot has been the name of the game during the pandemic – and one Girl Scout troop in Virginia is getting on board, jumping into the age of constant door-to-door delivery service in a unique way.

The Girl Scouts – like a number of institutions – had to find a new way to do things during the pandemic. 

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They were facing a 30 to 40 percent drop in sales for favorites like samoas and thin mints.

The dip in sales meant less money for community projects and future trips.

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But the new partnership between Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline and Google’s drone company Wing is already boosting sales.

Christiansburg, Va. has been serving as a test case for Wing since 2019 – with people ordering deliveries from coffee shops, eateries even Walgreens... through an app on their phones. 

In 2020, deliveries increased more than 500%.

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And studies show that the residents are enthusiastically receptive.

A Virginia tech survey found 87% of Christiansburg residents are in favor of the service. 

Right now there’s no delivery fee, and the drones carry about 3 pounds - or several boxes of cookies. 

The deliveries are happening in several other towns worldwide, but no word on when the service may expand in the U.S.