by Bea Peterson
It takes many volunteers doing a great deal of work to send 6,000 cookies, weighing 460 pounds, to troops in Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Oman and Afghanistan in time for Christmas. But, when you see the photos of the guys and gals with the cookies and receive their words of appreciation, it’s all worth it.
[private]Operation Christmas Cookie began in Hoosick Falls in 2007 when Suzanne and Gary Fitzpatrick’s son Brian was stationed in Afghanistan. Suzanne said, “I wanted to send cookies to some of his group. When I found out how many people there were, I knew I needed help, and Operation Christmas Cookie was started.
Over the years we have sent 3,000 packages of cookies, providing a taste of home to many men and women. For some it was the only remembrance of Christmas they received.”
Many volunteers bake cookies while others pack the cookies in containers. The Fitzpatricks supply the containers, help bake, help pack individual boxes and then see that the individual boxes are put in large boxes that they take to the Post Office for mailing. They have a sponsor that covers mailing costs. This year 400 containers filled 21 boxes. Each container had a label with an American flag on it and reads “Here is a taste of home while you are away from your home. We appreciate your sacrifices made for our country. Enjoy! Operation Christmas Cookie, Hoosick Falls, NY.”
The majority of the cookies (approximately 330 containers in 12 boxes) were sent to an Air Force Security Forces Unit at Bagram AFB in Afghanistan. Colonel Glen Christensen, USAF Commander, distributed the containers to Army and Air Force men and women. He sent pictures of folks with the cookie containers to the Fitzpatricks saying, “Thank you so very, very much for thinking of us! If you look closely, you’ll notice there are a number of US Army Soldiers in the pics. Currently in the Expeditionary Base Defense Group we have two squadrons and an Army Battalion. So, this year cookies crossed service boundaries! Thanks so much!”
“I am currently a deployed member of the USAF and I just want to thank you so much for sending a Christmas package. I think it is awesome what you and everyone you work with do. It definitely makes being deployed during the holidays that much easier,” said Joe.
“I just want to say thank you for taking the time to send us a care package. It means a lot. The cookies were amazing!” said Chance.
“The cookies were delicious. There were many troop favorites, but the gingerbread man cookies were particularly well received,” said Seth.
[/private]