Cookie drive sweetens Airmen’s lives

Airman 1st Class Emily Torres, 49th Operation Support Squadron air traffic controller, receives a bag of cookies from a cookie drive volunteer at her dorm room Dec. 10. The packages were made for the annual airman cookie drive, for which members of Team Holloman and the community baked cookies for Airmen living in the dorms. More than 2,600 dozen cookies were collected – 1,000 dozen more than the drive's goal of 1,600 dozen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Colin Cates/Released)

Cookie drive sweetens Airmen’s lives

The Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., officers and enlisted spouses clubs display cookies before being packaged at the base chapel Dec. 10 as part of the annual holiday cookie drive. The cookie drive provides cookies to Airmen in the dorms and visiting Airmen to provide a “taste of home” during the holiday season. The cookie packages had a ribbon tied around them with a holiday card made by elementary and middle school students from the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Colin Cates/Released)

Cookie drive sweetens Airmen’s lives

Members of the Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., officers and enlisted spouses’ clubs package cookies as part of the annual holiday cookie drive at the base chapel, Dec. 10. The cookie drive provides cookies to Airmen in the dorms and visiting Airmen to provide a “taste of home” during the holiday season. More than 2,600 dozen cookies were collected – 1,000 dozen more than the drive's goal of 1,600 dozen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Colin Cates/Released)

Cookie drive sweetens Airmen's lives

Published Dec. 12, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Colin Cates
49th Wing Public Affairs

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Airmen who live in the dorms received some home-made treats Dec. 10 to let them know they are not alone this holiday season.

Members of the officers and enlisted spouses' clubs and the community reached out to Airmen by baking and collecting home-made cookies, ranging from traditional sugar cookies to elaborately decorated cut-out cookies to chocolate chip as part of Holloman AFB's, annual holiday cookie drive.

More than 2,600 dozen cookies were collected - 1,000 dozen more than the drive's goal of 1,600 dozen.

"Our goal this year was 1,600 dozen cookies and we met that goal by 11 o'clock this morning," said Vicki Croft, organizer of the event and wife of Col. Andrew Croft, 49th Wing commander. "This event went great and it shows with the number of cookies we have received."

The cookies collected were taken to the base chapel for final "processing" before delivery to the dorm residents. For an added personal touch, the cookie package had a ribbon tied around it with a holiday card made by elementary and middle school students from the community.

Volunteers were able to prep and pack all 31,200 cookies that had to be "processed," in one day.

"The goal is to make the Airmen feel special and hope that they are reminded of being back home and enjoying a cookie made by mom," said Master Sgt. Douglas Vines, 29th Attack Squadron first sergeant.

Many Airmen in the dorms are not near family, so the cookies provide them an extra bit of holiday cheer.

"I thought the cookies were great and I really appreciated the card," said Airman 1st Class Tyrus Wilcox, 49th Security Forces squadron, patrolman. "The cookies made me miss home."

Croft said she would like to thank the volunteers, first sergeants, students at the schools who made the holiday cards, local community for supporting and giving to the drive, and base chapel and their vendors for donating the packing supplies.

"Our hope is that the Airmen have a feeling of home goodies when they receive the cookies," she said. "It is awesome that the community, not just the Air Force community, but also Alamogordo N.M. came together and thought of our Airmen."

"Everybody wanted to let the Airman know that we are thankful for their service along with being able to give them something that hopefully makes them think of home," said Croft.