KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Kirtland Spouses Club delivered nearly 5,000 cookies to Kirtland Airmen during its annual cookie drive Dec. 11-12.
The cookie drive’s purpose is to raise morale for Airmen, as many of them are spending the holidays away from their families.
“The cookie drive is important because spending holidays in a dorm room can very easily get lonely,” said Kirtland Spouses Club president Frank Capuano. “The spouses understand that a new place can sometimes be intimidating.”
The club began planning for the cookie drive in August, and in December members of team Kirtland come together to solicit donations, bake and put together bags of cookies.
“Even the Sandia Elementary School participates,” Capuano said. “The students decorate close to 700 bags to put the cookies in.”
This year, more than 65 bakers contributed to the drive, bringing in around 4,700 cookies. With the help of nearly 30 volunteers, each Airmen came home from work to a bag of cookies hanging on their door.
”I was really surprised,” said Airman 1st Class Jacara Pope, 377th Force Support Squadron customer service representative. “I had no idea what it was, and when I opened the bag it genuinely brought a smile to my face. After a long day at work, it was nice to know that someone was thinking of the Airmen.”
Although the spouses club doesn’t ask for feedback, they know how much the Airmen deeply appreciate the gesture.
“As president of the club, it makes me extremely proud to see the Kirtland community come together for such a good cause,” Capuano said.
Even though nothing can replace the feeling of being with family for the holidays, the spouses club hopes that homemade cookies can spread a little holiday cheer.