by Bea Peterson
On Saturday, December 3, Suzanne and Gary Fitzpatrick, assisted by family and friends, mailed 24 boxes, weighing 991 pounds and costing hundreds of dollars, to service men and women in eight different locations. The 735 containers of cookies and candies will be received by five units in Afghanistan and one each in Japan, Qatar and Honduras.
This is the fifth year of “Operation Christmas Cookie.” The holiday tradition began when the Fitzpatricks, their family and some friends packed boxes of cookies and treats to send to their son Brian’s Air Force unit stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The project has thrived and grown. “We have always tried to send boxes to local people first,” said Suzanne. Besides Brian, Tim McGuire and Tyler Smith have also received Christmas boxes. Army Blackhawk pilots Tim and Jay Baker, stationed in Bagram, are two of the recipients this time around. Others are friends of Brian.
Brian is now stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. Instead of receiving cookies, this year he was busy packing them Friday evening. The project has grown so over the years that the packing moved from the Fitzpatrick home to the First United Church Presbyterian hall. Brian and countless volunteers of all ages formed assembly lines and filled containers with homemade cookies and candies.
Suzanne said she is overwhelmed by the community support. The third grade class at HFCS, for example, raised $85 for postage. And, as word spreads, they receive support from others outside the Hoosick area. Friends of friends contributed 65 dozen cookies, she said. Another group in Schenectady contributed 200 dozen cookies. Workers at the Food Packaging Warehouse where they purchase the individual boxes separately sent over 200 pounds of stuff for the troops to Bagram.
Though people are already talking about next year, Suzanne wants to catch her breath before she starts thinking that far ahead. “It’s a big accomplishment,” she said and, at times, overwhelming. Brian, on the other hand, has been seeing cookies in his sleep. He was amazed by the number of people who are involved in the project. “It’s been a very good year,” Suzanne said. “People have been very generous. I’m very happy.”
“And,” she added, “it’s very worthwhile. We’re safe in our homes and beds, and they are not.”
