A lesson in sales from Makenna Hall

When Girl Scout Makenna Hall started selling her Girl Scout cookies this year she came across a unique sales pitch that sold cookies and helped Loaves & Fishes of Contra Costa.

“I would ask people if they wanted to buy Girl Scout Cookies,” said 14-year-old Makenna, “In this business you have to get a lot of rejections before you get a sale.” She added, “They would say, I’m on a diet, or I can’t eat sweets, so I would say: Pay for a box of cookies and I will donate them to Loaves & Fishes."

Makenna was able to convince thirty people to purchase a box of cookies for Loaves & Fishes! Those thirty boxes were donated to Loaves and Fishes one recent Monday after school was out. L&F executive director Mike Baroman-Coggins told Makenna that the next day her cookies were already distributed to our four sites and were being enjoyed by our clients.

Makenna, who is a student at Carondelet High School and is a resident of South Walnut Creek, is interested in singing, acting and dance, “a triple threat” says Makenna. She has participated in drama and plays at school since the second grade. This is where she learned the sales lesson of hearing a negative and turning it into a positive. “You also receive rejections when trying out for parts, but you always think of another way to package your talents to move ahead.”

Makenna, a member of Girl Scout Troop # 32634, is now in the process of earning her Silver Award along with six other members of her troop. Her younger brother Colton has also raised money for Loaves & Fishes in the past. He sells brownies and other treats at swim meets and donates the proceeds to Loaves & Fishes. “I get to make the brownies,” noted Makenna.

Karen Hall, Makenna and Colton’s mom, said that her children love to take on projects that help others. This is a family who truly cares about the community they live in. Great job Hall family!