Cookie Crush brings cookies, volunteer opportunities

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kyle Johnson
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  On Nov. 17, a host of volunteer Soldiers, Airmen and spouses gathered at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson hospital kitchen to bake thousands of cookies en masse for single JBER service members.

"We made 6,200 cookies last night in four or five hours," said Casey Andrysiak. "This was possible because other volunteers dropped off pre-made dough during the day to a drop-off point outside the hospital.

"This year, senior spouses will be decorating community rooms in the barracks where cookies will be distributed by end of business Dec. 7," Andrysiak said.

This grassroots initiative, dubbed Cookie Crush, is hosted by the JBER Spouses' Club, and is designed to give every single military member, no matter what organization they belong to, a taste of home, Andrysiak said.

The cookie drive began 19 years ago on then-Elmendorf Air Force Base, and similar cookie campaigns take place on almost every military installation during the winter holiday season.

On the Army side alone, Andrysiak said there are approximately 2,400 single Soldiers to whom they hope to give cookies to.

"I've had several Soldiers and Airmen approach me and let me know how much they appreciate the effort," Andrysiak said, "and how pleasantly surprised they were by the participation of all JBER families to make it happen."

The cookies have been well-received; sometimes a gesture as simple as a bag of cookies can brighten someone's day.

"They tasted awesome," said Antonio Tolefree, a previous recipient of cookies with the 205th Ordnance Company. "It really made me feel special, made me appreciate that someone thought about the guys that live in the barracks."

The goal for this year's Cookie Crush is 20,000 cookies donated. To accomplish this, Andrysiak said they need cookie donations as well as dough donations for the next mass baking event, scheduled for Dec. 1.

Cookie distribution is scheduled to begin Dec. 7 at 6 a.m. Donations will be accepted at the Warrior Zone on JBER-R from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., the Arctic Warrior Events Center on JBER-Elmendorf from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Bargain Shop on JBER-E from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the day of the event.

"As cookies are delivered to the AWEC, runners get them to the main assembly room, tables are lined with cookies, and assemblers select a variety of cookies to put into bags," Andrysiak said. "The bags are then packaged with a card from the JBER family and distributed by chief master sergeants and sergeants major."