BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 2nd Lt. Jeff Beard passes a case of Do-si-dos down the line en route to a waiting California Air National Guard truck. A Girl Scout cookie drive netted 22,000 boxes of cookies for deployed U.S. troops overseas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tim Jenkins)
Cookie drive nets 22,000 boxes for deployed military forces
by Master Sgt. Tim Helton
9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
03/30/03 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- "Hi, would you like to buy a box of cookies for yourself or a deployed military member?"
This simple request netted more than 22,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies for servicemembers deployed throughout the world.
The grass roots effort named "Operation Cookie Drop" began when the Beale Air Force Base Girl Scouts Troop 196 decided to send donated cookies to Beale deployed members.
"Every year we sell cookies which are donated to organizations in the community," said Shannon Glass, Tierra Del Oro Brownie Troop 196 co-leader. "This year we wanted to keep it with the military. We thought it would be a great idea for people deployed overseas to get a little taste of home."
The simple idea spread to other northern California Girl Scout troops who wanted to get involved.
"Our goal was 600 boxes, but as word spread the community opened their hearts and pretty soon we had 22,000 boxes," said Heather Gasper, Beale Girl Scouts service unit manager.
In fact, so many cookies were donated that it took a U-Haul truck and several vans to get the cookies to the base community center where their journey overseas could begin.
"It was an overwhelming response, but well worth the end result," said Gasper.
It was there where more than 100 Girl Scouts and military members gathered to load the cookies on a truck en route to a California Air National Guard warehouse.
"We'll take them to our warehouse in North Highlands where they'll wait for a way to go out," said California Air National Guard Master Sgt. Rob McGregor, 162nd Combat Communications Group. "They'll go out on a space-available basis, but one way or another, they'll all get to where they're going. This is so outstanding because nobody expected this much."
As a line of frequently smiling faces moved case after case, others were busy making banners and signs of support to accompany the cookies.
Mariah Helton, Tierra Del Oro Troop 196 Brownie, wrote "To show we care" and "I hope you like the Girl Scout cookies" on one banner.
Some of the cookies did not travel far. They were distributed to the Army National Guard forces deployed here to augment the 9th Security Forces Squadron.
"Receiving the cookies meant a lot and helps us know our presence is noticed here at Beale Air Force Base," said Army National Guard 1st Lt. Donald Hong, executive officer of the 578th Engineer Battalion's Charlie Company. "Even though our company is not deployed overseas, we are away from our families and to be welcomed in such a manner means a great deal."
"It was a way to say thank you to them," said Glass. "They are also away from their families, and although they are not overseas, they are doing their part to protect us."
A television reporter who showed up to cover the event said she was amazed by the effort.
"It's not every day you hear about an event that will have this much impact. Twenty-two thousand boxes of cookies is amazing to us and an effort well worth being recognized by Fox News," said Cheri Gyuro, a reporter with KTXL. "The girls showed a lot of pride and one was so overcome she started to cry. This event is true American pride."
Bold is mine as a reminder of ALL our troops doing their different parts to make a whole.