JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The Andrews Officers Spouses Club hosted the annual Cookie Caper at Chapel 1 Dec. 19. The event is held to show their appreciation to the service members.
Erica Gantt, AOSC advisor, was eager to assist in hosting the event because she wants to give back to the service members.
"They do so much all year long," said Gantt. "It's a small token of our appreciation."
The AOSC couldn't host the event without the help of Team Andrews volunteers and the local community.
Mina Baldinger, AOSC member, also showed her gratitude to the service members by letting them know she cares.
"Some service members are away from home for the first time for the holidays and we want to cheer them up," said Baldinger. "If they are feeling homesick, maybe a bag of cookies will help them feel more at home."
AOSC and volunteers know the impact on the service members is worth the time and effort to get an estimated 550 dozen cookies baked, bagged and delivered.
Roughly 50 people helped bag cookies, but that doesn't include the numerous amounts of people who helped behind the scenes. Andrews First Sergeant Council also helped bag and deliver the cookies.
Some of the bakers included: Andrews golf courses, the Youth Center's Keystone and Torch clubs, the Thrift Shop, and local Girl Scouts organization. The Thrift Shop also helped collect cookies for the event.
Imagine Andrews students and the home-school group on Andrews decorated the bags for the cookies.
"I also want to give a big thank you to the community for coming together and helping make this a success," said Gantt.