Cookies for the troops: care package quartermasters supply Soldiers with treats

Photo By Master Sgt. Rich Kemp | Helen Malmberg and Mary Fitzgerald whip up a batch of cookies to send to Soldiers overseas. Malmberg and Fitzgerald are residents of the Good Samaritan Society Senior Center and since August, have been sending treats to 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division Soldiers in Iraq. "They are just like grandma's cookies," Good Samaritan resident Helen Malmberg said. "We are all grandmas."  

BASRA, IRAQ

12.04.2009

Story by Pfc. J.P. Lawrence 

34th Red Bull Infantry Division

COB BASRA, Iraq — Few things put a smile on a Soldier's face faster than getting a care package during a deployment.

For Soldiers, these boxes are a reminder of home, a wanton luxury, a treasure chest filled with cookies and cakes and treats.

While many boxes come from family and friends, some boxes hail from unfamiliar addresses, from men and women back home who chose to adopt and supply Soldiers they do not know.

These men and women are "care package quartermasters," home front philanthropists who mail their appreciation overseas. These postal patriots want to do what they can for Soldiers, like the women from the Good Samaritan Society Senior Center in Maplewood, Minn., who send cookies.

Anne Carson, the Good Samaritan Society Health Information Coordinator, said the residents came up with the idea.

"The residents wanted to do something for the troops," Carson said. "They threw around a few ideas before they decided to make the cookies."

These women, veritable cookie veterans, have been baking cookies for their families for many years and it was an easy switch from baking cookies for little Johnny to shipping cookies to G.I. Joe.

"They are just like grandma's cookies," Good Samaritan resident Helen Malmberg said. "We are all grandmas."

Once mailing has begun, care package quartermasters can quickly find themselves captivated with supplying Soldiers. Laurie Kate Collier, a dentist, started sending care to one Soldier and quickly found herself baking for six, including the author of this article.

"They know me very well at the post office," Collier said.

Sending cookies is not as simple as just baking and folding and stamping, Collier said. Care package quartermasters must gently prepare their gifts for warzone conditions, a task that includes "making sure the custom forms are correct, packing the boxes so the items don't get crushed in transit, waiting in long lines at the post office," she said.

"I had to figure out what baked items would survive the trip to Iraq because it takes a week or two," Collier says. "I went through lots of ice packs also, so the items could survive the heat."

Despite these challenges, Collier said she's "happy to make things a little better over there for the Soldiers."

"It's the least I can do to make things a little better while you all are away from home," Collier said.
Patriotism has never been so delicious.

• Date Taken: 12.04.2009
• Date Posted: 12.04.2009 01:07
• Story ID: 42309
• Location: BASRA, IQ