by John Stratton

Cookies, plenty of them, from home. And home-baked, and mailed with care. Someone cares, they really do! Every once in a while a serviceman here, there, everywhere will receive an unexpected box with his or her name on it with a selection of close to 100 cookies, all sent from Chester, by the good

people of Connecticut Cookie Platoon.

 

It’s a bit of home, and it’s appreciated. “We’ve been doing this for six years now, it all started when my eldest son joined the military and I needed something to keep my mind off of the harm’s way that he was in…and we’ve been going strong every since,” said Debbie Schaefer, founder and director of the nonprofit, local group that currently has “around 60” bakers. Their motto is “Sending a small taste of home to the protectors of the homeland.”

 

They tend to send between 70 and 150 boxes containing multiple containers, each with 18 assorted cookies. “Bakers make their favorite cookies at their homes, then they bring all their cookies to our meeting place, which right now is at Whelen Engineering in Chester. We have them pack up the cookies in snap-on containers and we ship them to the troops. Unfortunately, our funds are low for our June shipment. Each box costs $6.81 through the USPS, so as you can see we need a lot of donations.”

 

There’s plenty of room in the kitchen, said Schaefer. “Anyone wishing to bake for us can call me at 860.526.2789, or you can even come help us pack — the energy is fabulous — and it’s all to benefit the troops.”

 

Cookie Platoon’s website is www.cookieplatoon.com and donations can be made through Paypal, or by mailing to

Cookie Platoon, P.O. Box 635,

Chester CT 06412.

 

From the Field…to CCP in Chester:

Dear Ms. Schaefer & Cookie

Platoon, I wanted to take a moment

and say thank you for the box of cookies

that you sent to me. I received the package and was wracking my brain for

who I knew in Connecticut that would

send me a package. When I saw what

was inside, I was thrilled. …And so were

the other guys here with me. It certainly

brightened our day. I wish I could say

that we kept and savored them, but I

have to report that the 4lbs of cookies

were gone in a matter of minutes (I was

somehow reminded of piranha in the

Amazon). The cookies were fantastic,

but the sentiment was even better. Thank

you for taking the time and energy to

help take care of us. It really means a lot.

I know that speak for everyone over here

that having support from great people

like all of you makes being away from

home easier.

 

Thanks again,

CPT Bradley Ritter