KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. -- Nothing says Christmas time like plates full of homemade cookies waiting for ravenous appetites to leave only a few crumbs behind

For many of Team Kirtland members this will be the first time they are away from home and family for the holidays, especially those living in the dorms. To help ease the season for them, the Kirtland Spouses’ Club will be giving them goodie bags filled with homemade cookies during its Annual Cookie Drive event.

“Nothing says happy holidays like home-baked cookies,” said KSC President Frank Capuano.

Team Kirtland can help KSC make the holidays a bit brighter for Airmen by baking and donating cookies for the annual drive.

“We are requesting the baking talents of the Kirtland community to donate cookies, while KSC volunteers will bag and package the cookies for delivery,” said Capuano.

There are approximately 600 Airmen living in the dorms and KSC is looking to provide each with a dozen cookies. That comes out to 7,200 cookies needed to give each Airman a baggie of cookies.

Last year, the KSC received more than 12,000 cookies for the drive.

“We are only collecting home-baked cookies; we are not looking for muffins or cupcakes, mainly because of the space required to pack them,” Capuano said.

The drive is part of the KSC’s Community Service Program to help Airmen and families around the base and in the community.

“The Kirtland community has always proved themselves to be generous and excellent bakers,” Capuano said.

Once those delicious cookies are baked, they can be dropped off at the KSC Clubhouse, located at 8150 Frost Ave.; it is the same building as the KSC Thrift Store. The times to drop-off are 4-7 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 6-11 a.m. Dec. 12.

To make things even easier, if it’s a baker’s first time to the clubhouse, there will be a big sign for the cookie drive in front of the building.

There is no need to even park for drop-off, as KSC is offering help to unload and carry the cookies inside the clubhouse, and all a baker needs to do is pull up.

As an additional note, bakers should make sure to label the cookies so the KSC knows what type of cookies they are.

The KSC is also looking for volunteers to help with the drive.

“We need cookie runners, cookie sorters, cookie baggers and check-in help,” Capuano said.

• Cookies runners greet bakers in front of the KSC Clubhouse and assist bringing donated cookies to the sorting area.

• Cookie sorters group donated cookies into designated categories.

• Cookie baggers select and bag a variety of cookies for each Airman.

At check-in, the KSC records the number of volunteers, bakers and most importantly, the number of cookies donated.

Once all the cookies are sorted and bagged, the first shirts will deliver them to the Airmen.

“Periodically I am asked, ‘Why does the KSC operate the Cookie Drive?’ Many people feel that other units on base should operate the cookie drive or that it is an archaic throw-back and should not be done at all. Why are spouses trying to help Airmen?” Capuano said. “I don’t know the origin of the cookie drive tradition, but I understand why the KSC operates the cookie drive today.

“Every spouse knows how easy it is to become isolated and alone after a (permanent change of station). It is an unpleasant experience that we’ve all had, more than once.

“Building a social network through spouses’ clubs is how we combat it. Spouses are acutely aware of the loneliness that can creep into the military lifestyle. That is what makes the KSC the right organization to operate the cookies drive for the Airmen. We understand. We also understand that home-baked cookies help.”

To sign up as a volunteer go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080549ada828a1f85-2017.