Base spreads holiday cheer through cookie drive

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Capling
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Homemade cookies are needed for Tyndall Air Force Base's Annual Cookie Drive. Donations will be collected 7-9 a.m. Dec. 10 at the loading docks behind the Tyndall AFB Commissary.

The goal of the program is to package and distribute 400 dozen cookies to all of the Airmen living in the dormitories.

The base-wide community project was supported by many base agencies such as the First Sergeants' Council, Officers' Spouses' Club and Enlisted Spouses' Club. It also receives support from the Tyndall AFB Commissary.

This year's program is organized by Charlene Wolters, Officers' Spouses' Club honorary president and wife of Brig. Gen. Tod Wolters, 325th Fighter Wing commander.

"We have approximately 370 Airmen living in the dorms. Homemade cookies and holiday wishes are a great way to show our support and appreciation to all of them," she said. 

"The commissary staff does an outstanding job to support this project," Mrs. Wolters said. "They provide us with the location and materials to collect and wrap the cookies. We couldn't do it without them."

Master Sgt. Billie Statom, 601st Air and Space Operation Center first sergeant, is participating in his first cookie drive as the cookie-drive representative for the Tyndall AFB First Sergeants Council.

"Single Airmen might not have the opportunity to go home for the holidays. This is our way to say, 'happy holidays,' and also to bring them some treats," the first sergeant said. "It's a worthwhile program for our Airmen."

Once collected and packaged, the cookies are delivered to the dorm residents by the first sergeants.

"We're really trying to give the Airmen a sense of home," said Linda Nicolas, officer spouses' club representative and wife of Col. George Nicolas Jr., 325th Medical Group commander. "It's a little bit of mom. We need to be taking care of our Airmen while they're away from their families."

For more information on the cookie drive, including volunteering or dropping off donations, e-mail tyndallcookiedrive@yahoo.com .