A colossal effort to spread holiday cheer

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Parker
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With help from the base and local community the Officers Spouses Club, Enlisted Spouses Club and the 82d Force Support Squadron Community Center are spreading some holiday cheer with the annual "Colossal Cookie Drive."

This year's cookie drive is a combined effort between the 82nd TRW and the 80th FTW, with all of the cookies will be delivered to Airman living in the dorms as a reminder that they are not alone.

"The hope is Airmen feel special and that they are reminded of being back home and enjoying a cookie made by mom," said Theresa Bareihs, wife of 80th FTW commander Col. Dieter Bareihs.

Cookies were collected over two days and by nine o'clock Dec. 14, there were well over 1,500 dozen cookies with deliveries still coming in.

"The goal this year was to raise 2000 dozen cookies to be delivered to both Airmen-in-Training and the permanent party dorms, said Ann Fantini, wife of 82nd TRW commander Brig. Gen. Michael Fantini.

Individuals and groups from across the base as well as the local community helped contribute to the cookie drive. United Methodist Church, the Wichita Falls Symphony League as well as the Eure-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training country sponsors were among the many that brought in the dozens of cookies.

All the cookies were dropped off at the Community Center where they were packaged by volunteers. For an added personal touch, the bags the cookies went into were decorated by local elementary schools.

Volunteers were able to prep and pack the nearly 24,000 cookies that had to be packaged in one day. After packaging the cookies were taken to the dorms by first sergeants and additional volunteers.

"It really was a colossal effort base-wide to make this happen and I am so grateful for all the volunteers who have made this happen, " said Mrs. Fantini.

Many Airmen in the dorms are not near family, so the cookies provide them an extra bit of holiday cheer.

"A surprise like this means a lot to the Airmen, it can really brighten their holiday when so many are far away from family," said Michael Sirmons, 80th FTW first sergeant.