Kadena volunteers spread holiday cheer to single servicemembers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique Perez
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Bringing a taste of home to almost 2,000 single servicemembers, 500 volunteers from various organizations here recently baked more than 24,000 cookies for Operation Hometown Kadena Cookie Drop.

This is the second year a cookie drive has been organized for single E-4's and below during the holidays, and the entire community worked together to make it a success.

"Last year, our cookie drive started as a way to spread a little holiday cheer to our single Airmen living in the dorms," said Marianne Williams, the wife of Brig. Gen. Brett Williams, 18th Wing commander. "This year the project has grown exponentially."

What began as a way for Kadena spouses  to provide treats for unaccompanied Airmen became a huge operation involving several hundred volunteers who worked over the course of four days to make the cookies. This year Soldiers, Sailors and Marines living in Kadena's dorms will also receive a bundle of cookies.

Donations came from different vendors at the commissary who provided the butter, eggs, and oil. The local Boy Scout chapter organized a cookie drive to collect donations of cookie dough from commissary patrons. The USO donated other cookie ingredients and ribbon while AAFES provided the bags used to package the cookies. The 18th Force Support Squadron provided the facilities for baking.

"This has been one of the most amazing experiences and so much fun," said Kathy Banks, co-chair for the event and the spouse of 18th Operations Group commander, Col. Ronald Banks. "We've had about 20 different groups in here, and I think everyone has had just a wonderful time. Everyone wants to come back next year and participate so hopefully it will be just as good, if not better next year."

Almost every unit at Kadena assisted in one way or another, including the 18th Wing's Operations, Mission Support, Maintenance, Medical, and Civil Engineer Groups as well as the 353rd Special Operations Group and many of Kadena's other tenant units. In addition, the Officer and Enlisted Spouses Clubs, Army Spouses, Navy Spouses, Department of Defense Schools, American Red Cross, Kadena High School National Honor Society, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and Kadena Child Development Center all lent their time and energy to the effort.

"The outpouring of generosity is unbelievable," said Sheri Fletcher, co-chair for the event and spouse of Col. Kelly Fletcher, 18th Mission Support Group commander.

Anson Winsor, a volunteer from the Kadena High School National Honor Society, said the cookie drop helps servicemembers "get some holiday fun and holiday treats. It makes me feel happy because I'm giving back to them because they do fight for our country, and they sacrifice a lot. So for me to personally be able to do this for them makes me feel pretty special."

Among the many groups that volunteered to help were Okinawans from the Nikkei Business College in Okinawa City who saw this as an opportunity to practice their English skills and experience how Americans celebrate the holidays.

Shoko Yamamoto, an English teacher at the college who set up the trip for her students, said that it was a great way to experience an American Christmas and a good opportunity for the students to know a different culture. "We don't make Christmas cookies in Japan and we don't use sprinkles either; our cookies are very plain, so making them was fun," she said.

"I could not be more proud of everyone's dedication and teamwork," said Mrs. Williams. "This would not have happened without the enthusiastic leadership of our co-chairs Kathy Banks and Sheri Fletcher."

Kadena Air Base's first sergeants and local Boy Scouts will deliver the cookies door-to-door in the dorms Dec. 8.