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Operation Sweet Treat: volunteer, spread holiday cheer

  • Published
  • By Christine Criswell
  • 51st Fighter Wing
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The Osan Officers' Spouses Club and the Osan Enlisted Spouses' Club have joined forces this year to continue the 15-year tradition of Operation Sweet Treat.

The operation is designed to make service members feel more at home during the holidays, and successfully delivered more than 15,000 assorted cookies and homemade greeting cards to the units at Osan last year.

Both spouses' clubs plan to make 2013 an even bigger success, with a goal of distributing individual packages of cookies, other food items and greeting cards to approximately 8,700 unaccompanied Airmen and Soldiers assigned to both Osan and Kunsan Air Base.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to give a piece of their family to those that are serving in the Republic of Korea without their loved ones," said Landa Strunk, Operation Sweet Treat chairperson. "It's a great way to let them know we care and are supporting them. Hopefully, it can make at least one day out of their year-long assignment more joyous."

Operation Sweet Treat offers several opportunities to volunteer. Through donations from the commissary, those that can pledge to bake more than 12 dozen cookies can pick up a complete baking kit there from 8 to 11 a.m., Nov. 26 and 27.

Volunteers are also needed to sort items, assemble packages and deliver a total of 35,000 cookies to Bella Panini's in the Officers' Club from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 7 and 8. The club's Aces room will be the site for prepping gift bags from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Dec. 8, and from 7:30 a.m. until everything is finished, Dec. 9.

"I know the Osan community has a big heart and can accomplish so much when we all come together for a purpose," Strunk said. "I have seen it first hand and I know that we will not let anyone down this year."

Individuals interested in volunteering should visit the Operation Sweet Treat Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OperationSweetTreat to sign up.

For more information, contact one of the event coordinators at OsanOperationSweetTreat@gmail.com.