Annual Cookie Drive gives Airmen a taste of the holiday season Published Dec. 14, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Michael Charles Nellis Public Affairs office NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Throughout the year, the Las Vegas community comes together to support the men and women who serve in the Air Force and the holidays are no exception. Single Airmen living in the dormitories at Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases recently returned rooms to find a taste of home courtesy of the 2009 Holiday Cookie Drive. More than 100 volunteers, including leadership and spouses from the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and wings at both bases, gathered Dec 14 to package more than 13,000 donated cookies for 880 local Airmen and 130 who are currently deployed overseas. The donated baked goods, which included 8,000 cookies from the community and 5,000 from the Nellis Commissary, were first delivered to the Nellis Chapel where volunteers packaged the treats complete with ribbons and cards from local elementary students. The packages were then delivered to every Airman living in the dormitories by the Nellis and Creech First Sergeants. Cookies will also be bagged and delivered to on-duty Nellis and Creech Airmen on Christmas Day. "The amount of volunteers is amazing," said Lorrie Kresge, wife of U.S. Air Force Warfare Center Commander, Maj. Gen. Ted Kresge, and an organizer for this year's Cookie Drive. "These individuals are ensuring that the Airmen who might not be able to go home for Christmas are taken care of. It really is great to see the community come together for a great cause." The annual event, which was implemented locally years ago and is also hosted at other bases around the Air Force, is a combined effort to bring the presence of family to Airmen during the holidays. In addition to donating cookies, the Nellis Commissary also donated recyclable bags, trays, candy, food and coffee for the volunteers and donated cookies came from numerous sources throughout the Las Vegas community. Kitty Hawthorne Ward Elementary School, Lomie Heard Elementary School, Pioneer Services and the Nellis Civil Air Patrol made cards and donated candy for deployed Airmen which will be sent overseas with the cookies. "Every year we receive the cutest cards from the local community," said Organizer Joann Handy, wife of 57th Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Russ Handy, and a two-year veteran of the annual event. "The kids who donate these cards might not know it, but it really means a lot to the Airmen to know that no matter how young the individual is, they still are appreciated for the service they give to our country." For those who take the time and make the sacrifice, their efforts are greatly appreciated. "It's hard being away from family this time of year," said Airman 1st Class William Ross, 99th Force Support Squadron personnel specialist and FSS dorm president. Cookies are a symbol for the holidays and getting them makes it feel like we are a little closer to home for the holiday season."
