Misawa Cookie Caper brings a taste of home

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lauren Rogers
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Servicemembers from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Japan Air Self-Defense Force at Misawa may use different acronyms and even speak a different language from each other, but there's at least one thing they all have in common: they love cookies.

This year's Cookie Caper team baked over 27,000 cookies to give 2,572 unaccompanied service members at Misawa Air Base, Japan, a taste of home this holiday season.

"Our goal is to give a dozen cookies to every unaccompanied Airman, Soldier, Sailor, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force servicemember stationed at Misawa," said Senior Master Sgt. Irene Sharp, Cookie Caper event coordinator and 373rd Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Support Squadron superintendent.

Most importantly, Sharp says her team of over 100 volunteers wants to give people something to make the holidays away from home a little easier.

"At Misawa, people don't have the luxury of spending time with family like they would if they were stationed closer to home, so we're very happy to have the opportunity to let people know they are appreciated  and thought of during this time of year," said Jenny Grounds, Cookie Caper committee member and volunteer.

On Dec. 9, volunteers gathered at the Misawa Officers' Club to package thousands of cookies, and the next day, first sergeants from each unit on base picked up the cookies to deliver to their unaccompanied members.

"Besides the chance to give away cookies, it's also been a great way for spouses to meet new people involved in the Cookie Caper," said Sharp. "Our volunteers weren't just Air Force spouses, they were people representing every branch of service at Misawa.

"I'm thankful for the Misawa community coming together and turning this event into something bigger than we imagined. Our goal was to collect 22,000 cookies and all the volunteers far exceeded my expectations."