Every twelve months, workers at the Kellogg plant on Ralph Avenue crank out millions of mouthwatering Girl Scout cookies for eager Louisvillians. For Girl Scouts and local communities everywhere, cookie season has always been a win-win. The proceeds help fund field trips, sports clinics and community service projects, while giving young girls the opportunity to learn essential business skills. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s a solid seven hundred million dollar enterprise.
However, what is the yummiest time of the year for cookie eaters is months of bone-tiring work for employees at the Kellogg factory. Reportedly, laborers at the local plant are forced to work over fifty hours a week, and risk losing their jobs if they refuse the overtime.
After reading about the overworked employees in a February 22nd Courier-Journal article, eight year old and second-year Girl Scout, Lily Derosia, took action. She cut out the article that had been circulated in her hometown paper in Rochester, NY and brought it to her scout meeting the very next day. Successful in getting her troop leader and a dozen other scouts to sign a petition urging for better working conditions, Derosia also sent a hand written letter to Kellogg’s CEO John Bryant.
In the letter, she says, “We believe that all people should be treated fairly. We want to sell cookies made by a company that cares about their workers.” That’s right, not only does this eight year old read her local newspaper and pen hand written letters, but she’s also not afraid to speak up, defend others, and if need be, stick it to the man.
Many in Louisville hope Lily Derosia’s letter brings about change. In the meantime, we can all learn a thing or two from a Girl Scout who’s doing her best to be “honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong.”
Photo courtesy of Ali Touhey's Facebook page.
