Spreading holiday cheer, one cookie at a time

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Siemsen, 317th Operation Support Squadron first sergeant, hangs a bag of cookies for a dorm resident as part of Operation Cookie Drop at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas Dec. 9, 2016. More than 7,000 cookies were donated for the event from Dyess leadership, spouses and various organizations from the Abilene community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rebecca Van Syoc)

Spreading holiday cheer, one cookie at a time

Cookies and various other treats were donated for Dyess Airmen residing in the dorms as part of Operation Cookie Drop at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 8, 2016. The Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Military Affairs Committee and Independent School District helped with donating some of the treats that were delivered by Dyess first sergeants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rebecca Van Syoc)

Spreading holiday cheer, one cookie at a time

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Chadwick Potts, left, 7th Bomb Wing chaplain, Master Sgt. Eric Siemsen, middle, 317th Operation Support Squadron first sergeant, and Master Sgt. Kimberly Manuel-Buckles, right, 7th Munitions Squadron first sergeant, look over a dorm resident list at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 9, 2016. As part of ensuring a successful mission for Operation Cookie Drop, Dyess first sergeants and other volunteers organized lists of occupied rooms in each dorm building so that every dorm resident receives a bag of cookies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rebecca Van Syoc)

Spreading holiday cheer, one cookie at a time

Dyess first sergeants and volunteers organize bags of cookies and other treats as part of Operation Cookie Drop at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 8, 2016. Dyess leadership, spouses and various organizations from the Abilene community donated more than 7,000 cookies and other treats that were given out to dorm residents. (Courtesy photo)

Spreading holiday cheer, one cookie at a time

Published Dec. 9, 2016
By Airman 1st Class Rebecca Van Syoc
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- After a hard day of work in their shop, the Airmen of Dyess return to their dorms for rest and relaxation. Today when they arrived at the doors of their room, they found them adorned with a small, colorful bag filled with cookies.

These little treats are all thanks to Operation Cookie Drop, an annual event where Dyess first sergeants and volunteers from both the base and the Abilene community give Airmen residing in the dorms a little “taste of home” in the form of cookies and various other treats.

“The cookies are just one small token of appreciation,” said Master Sgt. Gabriel Canales, 7th Logistics Readiness Squadron first sergeant. “It’s a way of thanking our Airmen for all that they do and to let them know that we are thinking of them during the holiday season.”

The process starts with getting the cookies, which are donated from spouses, the Abilene community and multiple organizations on Dyess. The cookies are bagged up for each dorm resident, which can range from 500 to 600 Airmen and tenant unit Marines, and then dropped off to the dorm residents the following day. By the time that Operation Cookie Drop was complete, more than 7,000 cookies had been delivered across Dyess.

“The cookies are donated partially from Dyess leadership, spouses and Airmen, but there’s also a lot of love from our awesome Abilene community,” Canales said. “We get support from the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Abilene Military Affairs Committee, Abilene Independent School District, retirees and civilian employees. This wouldn’t be possible without their support.”

The event took a total of two days to complete, with the first day spent taking cookie donations and bagging them, and the second day delivering them to the dorms. It can take between one to two hours the second day to hand out all the cookies, depending on how many people help with the operation.

“It made me really happy to find a bag of cookies on my door,” said Airman 1st Class Sarah Thompson, 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection apprentice. “To me, it shows that the first sergeants and Abilene community really care and want to spread some holiday cheer; cookies are always a nice treat to get.”

Operation Cookie Drop ensured that Dyess Airmen know they’re remembered and cared for, especially during the holiday season. With the weather cold and winter settling in over the base, perhaps a bag of cookies can give the dorm residents a little bit of extra holiday cheer.