Got Milk?

Published Dec. 10, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Michael Charles
Nellis Public Affairs

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev -- Some of the fondest childhood memories of most families was when they would gather together in the kitchen and make cookies. Rolling each batch of cookie dough; adding sprinkles to the recently frosted sugar cookies; all while Christmas music is blaring in the background. Nothing says the holiday season is near quite like homemade cookies.

In an effort to bring this sense of family presence to the single Airmen in the dorms and abroad, the leadership from all of the wings of Nellis and Creech AFBs hosted a cookie drive at the base chapel Dec. 8.

The Nellis community came together with more than 150 volunteers who donated more than 20,000 cookies. These treats were given to 880 Airmen in the Nellis area and 130 Airmen deployed to various locations overseas.

"It really says a great deal about the caring in our community when that many homemade cookies are donated to Airmen who aren't near their immediate family," said Staff Sgt. Jerry Wally, an instructor at the First Term Airman Center. "It means that all these people took time out of their busy work schedule to think about the Airmen."

The event was implemented years ago to bring a morale booster to the Airmen who are living at the dorms or are deployed.

"It's always a great thing to spread cheer throughout the dorms," said Senior Master Sgt. Steve Moore, the 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron first sergeant. "We are trying to let them know that their military family is thinking of them."

Each Airman will receive a bag of 18 to 20 cookies that will be placed on their dorm room bed by various first sergeants and Brig. Gen. Russell Handy, the 57th Wing commander.

"We tried to give them something to look forward to," said Cindy Hoog, the wife of Brig. Gen. Stephan Hoog, the United States Air Force Warfare Center commander. "It's easy to lose the holiday spirit in times like these. We are bringing that holiday spirit to the Airmen to let them know we support them and thank them for their service."

The cookie drive was also made possible by the businesses and schools around the Nellis community. The commissary donated 660 recyclable bags and more than 600 cookies to the event. Ernest J. May Elementary School, Lomie Heard Elementary School and the Civil Air Patrol also made cards for the deployed Airmen which will be sent with the cookies.

The drive helped to bring the Nellis-Creech community together to reward Airmen who serve every day.