Home away from home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. --  Squadron first sergeants, chief master sergeants and Airmen floor and dorm chiefs delivered individual boxes of home-made cookies to more than 340 Airman currently residing in the three dorms here, Dec. 12, 2012.

Base spouses baked and collected more than 4,000 cookies from donors throughout the base and packaged them in boxes with a "Happy holidays from Team McConnell" sealing-sticker to keep the cookies fresh.

Evelyn McDew was able to help pass out cookies while she was visiting the base with her husband, Lt. Gen. Darren McDew, 18th Air Force commander.

"It's amazing to be able to come here from the 18th Air Force to give homemade cookies to these Airmen," she said. "It's the first time away from home for many of them, and I'm glad we can make them feel at home here."

Groups of first sergeants and chief master sergeants visited every dorm room and personally delivered the baked goods or, if the Airman wasn't off duty and back in the dorms, left the box in their room as a surprise for their return.

The cookie drive, beyond providing Airmen with a homemade treat, was meant to help promote morale and welfare amongst the youngest and newest members of Team McConnell during the holidays.

"It's really cool to know that there are people on base who care about us enough to bake and deliver cookies straight to our rooms," said Airman 1st Class Xavier Kinsey, 22nd Communications Squadron communication security accountant.