Operation Cookie Drop brings local Airmen a taste of home

Published Dec. 1, 2009
By Monica Mendoza
21st Space Wing Public Affairs staff writer

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Farrah Champion grew up in a military family and then married a military man. She knows what it's like to be away from home for the holidays. That's why she spent the weekend baking cookies.

"I think it's great to give Airmen a little taste of home this time of year," she said.

Ms. Champion is a member of the Peterson Spouses' Club and key organizer of this year's Cookies for Troops holiday cookie give-away. Each year, the club organizes a cookie-donation drive, accepting dozens of home-baked cookies for Airmen who live in Peterson's dormitories and work in base 24-hour work centers, including police and fire stations. Last year, more than 700 dozen cookies were baked and donated and then delivered by local first sergeants.

"It's neat that the first sergeants deliver the cookies," Ms. Champion said.

The club would like to put at least a dozen and a half cookies in each bag. Club members also are accepting donations of hot chocolate packets and individually wrapped candy to put in the bags for Airmen.

Sandy Gearhart, Peterson Spouses' Club president, said the cookie drive is a great way to kick off the holiday season.

"This is our way of saying thank you to the community that supports us in our activities all year long," she said. "It's our opportunity to let the dorm residents and all the folks in 24-hour work centers know that we are thinking about them and we appreciate everything they do."

And, she said, baking cookies for them is fun.

Anyone can donate cookies and they do not have to be individually wrapped. Club members will sort and bag the cookies.

"People are generous," said Ms. Gearhart. "It's one of our favorite projects."

· Cookies will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 7 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8 at the chapel, Building 1410 on Stewart Avenue.
· Note on the bag the number of cookies and if the cookies contain any kind of nuts.
· Cookies will be bagged at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and then delivere