By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Thousands of homemade cookies were collected, bagged and delivered to dormitory residents, Dec. 9, 2011, at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.

Nearly 400 single service members of McConnell and 50 patients at the Robert J. Dole Veterans Affairs Regional Medical Center received more than 5,000 cookies as part of the Cookie Caper program sponsored by McConnell's leadership and spouse clubs. McConnell's Golden Eagles, longtime civic leaders who have supported McConnell Airmen and their families for many years, also contributed to the event.

The hundreds of volunteers who baked and donated the cookies helped organize, bag and deliver them ensuring the success of the program, said Staff Sgt. Julius King, 22nd Medical Support Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of pharmacy support.

Santa Clause-themed paper boxes, donated by local civic leaders, housed the baked goods. Once all the treats were bagged, volunteers delivered them to the dormitories. Dorm managers and volunteers knocked on each military member's door to deliver the special packages.

Though the main event of the cookie drive is delivering cookies, the event was more than just giving homemade goods to Airmen.

"This was really nice, especially for people like me who won't be able to go home this year," said Airman 1st Class Bryan McMahan, 22nd Maintenance Squadron metals technician. "It really makes you feel like people care."

This feeling of support was the main goal of the drive.

"I remember being a young airman, when it was my first [Christmas] away from my family," King said. "It really shows that someone does care and knows that you won't get that holiday cheer that you get when you are normally home. This program is extremely important, it shows the airmen that we care and even though we know you're away from your family, but we're your family too."

Cookies will also be delivered to airmen working 24-hour operations.

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