A sweet taste of home

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Dawn Johnson of Porter, Ind., protects cookie packages with bubble wrap before adding them to the box at a recent cookie drive. The packages will be shipped to deployed men and women in the armed forces. | Photo Provided

Updated: March 15, 2012 8:03AM

Brenda Coleman of Valparaiso and Cathy Cushway of Oak Lawn, Ill., asked a few friends to bake homemade cookies to be sent overseas to deployed soldiers. Word began to spread. Before long, they collected and packed more than 1,300 dozen cookies in 2011.

This year, Cushway and Coleman realized they would need to enlist more help to send the boxes of sweets to deployed men and women during their difficult time away from family and friends.

They decided to set up an assembly line. Families, groups and individuals assisted at various stations. As donated cookies were brought to VFW Post 2511 in Porter, volunteers counted them, then placed a piece of bread in each bag to maintain the cookies’ freshness during travel. Next, each dozen was encased in Bubble Wrap for protection and placed in boxes.

Rose Davison-Schubert, 97, of Chesterton baked several batches, including snickerdoodles and peanut butter cookies. She also volunteered that day.

“I like being a part of this — doing and giving. I can still use my hands and arms and still have brain power. I feel peppy and ready to go,” said Schubert. “There isn’t anything I’d rather do for (the military) than giving them homemade cookies, other than bringing them home safely, of course. That would be my first choice.”

More than 11,000 cookies will be shipped this year. Dozens of gingersnaps, coconut macaroons, oatmeal raisin, chocolate mint, molasses, white chocolate macadamia nut, sugar cookies and other varieties will be savored by men and women serving overseas.

Girl Scout leader Colleen Pepin brought a group from Chesterton Troop 30344. After sorting and counting cookies, the girls created Valentine’s Day cards to be sent with the packages. “We decided to come out and lend our support. I think it’s important to make sure our soldiers know we haven’t forgotten them,” said Pepin. “They’re still in our thoughts, and we appreciate their efforts to keep us safe. I think (the cookies) are going to be a little taste of home.”

Bomber Girls is a nonprofit group of motorcycle-riding women who host events throughout the year to support military men, women and their families.