Operation Cookie Drop {Mission 1}

Operation Cookie Drop will begin this weekend! Thank you so much to those of you who have volunteered to bake cookies and send them to our troops who are overseas defending our freedom!

For those of you who aren't familiar with this project, you can read all the details here. In a nutshell, it's a summer long project to send homemade cookies to the 351st Air Refueling Squadron who have been deployed to the Middle East for the summer.

Packages should be sent out a week from today, Wednesday, July 22. Please be prompt with the shipping! Each package should contain at least 5 dozen homemade cookies. Please make them from scratch, not the store bought pre-made ones. Let's give them the best!!

Below are some very helpful guidelines courtesy of Kat of The Cat's Pajamas, who is a military wife and founder of The Baking Gals, which is a fantastic way to continue helping those overseas once Operation Cookie Drop is complete.

Lets start with your package itself.

My greatest success is found when using one of those cheap Ziplock Snap and Seal containers that measure about 12" x 6" x 4". Line the bottom of the container with 2-3 sheets of folded paper towels or napkins. Layer the cookies in a single layer, take another paper towel, fold it in half, repeat* until you get to the top. Tape the container shut, these boxes get thrown... so if you go through the paper towel trick and then tape the container shut, you're cookies are pretty much guaranteed to arrive safely.

*TIP: Place some apple peels inside the fold of the napkins closest to each layer of the cookies to preserve freshness. This is an old trick women used when sending baked goods during WWII.

On to cookies:

Make a cookie that makes you think of home. They don't need to be fancy: just simple, sweet and home baked. Examples are chocolate chip, chocolate chocolate chip, peanut butter, m&m, etc. Here's a list of a bunch of different kinds you could make. I tend to sway away from hard, crunchy cookies because the cookies loose a little oomph when mailed already. So- very simply, make a cookie that when you smell it... you think "home."

Finally, that pesky customs form the Post Office likes to confuse us with...(it's actually very simple) here are some tips.

I recommend printing at least this section of this post to bring to the P.O. with you, just in case...

Here's the form...

In Section 1, Sender's Information: fill out your own information. You need to put your real name and address in that box because the Post Office will require you to sign the form.

In Section 2, Recipient Information: fill in the destination.

First line is the name of of the person or unit/squadron you're shipping to.

Second line is the funny little unit label and box number.

Third line is where the APO, FPO, etc. goes along with the zip code.

Example:

MSgt Gomer Pyle -- person, unit or squadron

CMR 123, Box 456 -- unit code, squadron code and box number

APO, AE 12345 -- this is the city/state/zip for the military installation it goes to

"AA" stands for Armed Forces America (meaning they're stateside)

"AE" stands for Armed Forces Europe (meaning they're stationed in Europe)

"AP" stands for Armed Forces Pacific (meaning they're stationed in the Pacific)

In Section 3, Contents: list the contents of your package (the whole box if you put more than cookies in there) It doesn't have to be detailed, you can fill the box with cookies, candy, postcards, etc and simply state on the form: Homemade Cookies, Candy, Postcard. You don't have to individually list these items... just a general "tada!" of what's to be expected. If you don't fill this out (I'd be surprised if the mail clerk would let you go) they'll have to open and inspect the box. You don't want this to happen because it can delay the delivery of your box upwards of months.

Check Airmail/Priority

Check Gift

In Section 4, Quantity/Weight: You don't have to list 31 cookies, 22 mints, 1 chapstick. I usually just leave this blank and they don't mind. The mail clerk will fill in the weight on the bottom of the form, so don't bother yourself with the weight either.

In Section 5, Value: If you purchased items to go into your box, just write down what you spent.

In Section 6, Total Value: Just add up section 5. I usually declare about $15. Anything over $500 they'll ask you to purchase insurance.

In Section 7, Senders Request: Check the box that you want. I usually check "Treat as Abandoned" because there's usually just goodies in there and I don't necessarily need them back. If you want your box returned to you if your buddy/unit for some reason cannot accept it, simply check "return to sender," you'll be charged for return postage though.

Sign and Date the bottom.

It's simple. I promise. I usually grab a pile of customs forms at the post office and fill them out at home because I'm a Type A who has to have all my things together. If you want to fill it out at the post office, or online... feel free.

Occasionally, I've been asked to fill out a little green form (it's about 3"x 3") but not always. This is the same information as what goes on the other form... just not as much info is required. The green form is not used in lieu of that train wreck above, but in addition to.

Some important things to note:

The men over there really want a connection to home, meaning the States. Grab a couple postcards from your local city/state. Drop a line or two on the back of the postcard, maybe write your web address so the soldier/airmen/marine/seaman can check up on you and drop you a thank you. They like to say thanks. You can always write a few lines about yourself, why you felt compelled to send them cookies or just say thanks for their service.

If you want to include some other goodies here are a few suggestions:

Easy Mac

Granola, home made or purchased

Trail mix

Crackers

Easy Cheese

Gum

Candy, things like Sweet Tarts, Mentos, Skittles, etc. (chocolate and gummies will melt)

Mints

Chips

Dinty Moore

BEEF Jerky (absolutely NO pork products)

Canned foods (no PORK and beans though)

Crystal Light or Kool-Aid single serving packets

I hope this helps! If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'd be more than happy to help.

Thank you all so much for doing this for our men and women. You just don't know how this touches their hearts. And a big thank you to Kat for all these great tips!!

If you haven't signed up but would like to, please send an e-mail to OperationCookieDrop{at}chasingcheerios{dot}com!