Operation Cookie Drop

  • Published
  • By Chris Lecompte
  • 6th Civil Engineer Squadron Unaccompanied Housing
MACDILL AFB, Fla. --  Once again this holiday season the smell of fresh baked cookies will fill MacDill dormitory rooms as the fifth annual Operation Cookie Drop commences bringing a little home-made cheer to our unaccompanied service members. Volunteers are needed to make this a successful event. The Cookie Drop will require volunteers to drop off their prepared treats in disposable, covered containers at the Base Chapel (Annex 1) on Dec.15 during the hours of 7:30 a.m. - 12p.m. After 12 p.m., the cookies will be taken to the Dining Facility to be set up for distribution to MacDill dorm residents between 2 and 6 p.m. that day.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for people from the MacDill community to provide our dorm residents, who represent all military branches -- with a little touch of home," said Mrs. Julia Martin, wife of 6th Air Mobility Wing commander Col. Larry Marin. "We couldn't do this without the wonderful help of our spouses and retirees from all the mission partners here at MacDill. We have such a caring sense of community, of taking care of others, that is just fantastic and always make our cookie drives a huge success - especially for our young service members in the dorms."

Mrs. Martin is spearheading this year's Cookie Drop with a slight twist.

"This year, we will be offering the dorm residents a choice by setting up a cookie bar. This also expands the types of cookies the volunteers can bake," she added.

Volunteers this year can make various treats, such as Rice Krispie treats, fudge, bar cookies, frosted cookies, etc. Anything homemade and of a "holiday" spirit would be greatly appreciated. The treats should be placed in transportable, disposable containers.

"Any amount would be wonderful, but with the number of dormitory residents we have on MacDill we need more than 2,500 cookies, so we'd love it if people could send in a couple of dozen or more if they can," said Chief Master Sgt. Richard Lee, 6th Mission Support Group. "Most of us have spent some time apart from family and friends during the holidays, and Operation Cookie Drop is one way to let our unaccompanied service members know we are thinking of them and appreciate what they do each and every day."

If baking isn't possible, there are other ways to help out. Volunteers will be needed on Dec. 15 to transport cookies from the Chapel to the dining facility, help decorate the dining room and operate the cookie bar during the four-hour serving period. For further questions or to volunteer, contact Tech. Sgt. Unhye Zipay at 828-2790.

(portions of this article came from a similar article, same subject, in the MacDill THUNDERBOLT, page 4, dated Friday 12 Dec 2008, by A1C Katherine Holt)