Volunteers baking cookies for deployed Team Vance Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Frank John Casciotta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Airman & Family Readiness Center is hosting its 17th annual Operation Cookie Cutter event Nov. 3 and 4 at the Community Chapel Activity Center from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This year the A&FRC plans to bake a grand total of 2,000 cookies and ship them out to Vance's Airmen deployed to various locations around the world, said Staff Sgt. Amy Snyder, the NCO of readiness at the Center, and Operation Cookie Cutter coordinator.

A team of approximately 30 volunteers consisting of members of the officer and enlisted spouses groups and Airmen have stepped up to help bake and package cookies.

The Eisenhower Elementary School located on base, and the Vance Youth Center, have made cards for the deployed Airmen. The base Dental Clinic has also provided oral hygiene kits to go along with the cookies and cards, said Snyder.

"It's important to let those who are deployed know they are in our thoughts and people are thinking about them," said Snyder.

"This year we have about 60 Airmen deployed and with 2,000 cookies they should get almost three dozen each, you know, so they can share with others," said Snyder.

"The idea behind this operation is to improve morale for deployed Airmen," said Snyder. "After all, who doesn't like to get cookies in the mail?"

Last year, Operation Cookie Cutter provided a total of 1,000 cookies for delivery to approximately 50 of Vance's deployed Airmen.

"We have had a lot of volunteers this year," said Snyder. "People really want to support our deployed Airmen."

People who want to contribute to Operation Cookie Cutter, but don't have the time to volunteer, may simply make a trip to the Commissary and donate cookie dough.

"We have a cooler set up at the Commissary to make it very easy for people in case they just want to donate," said Snyder. "They can just grab some cookie dough while they are shopping and drop it off on their way back out to their car."

For more information about Operation Cookie Cutter and how to volunteer, contact Snyder at 213-6330.