Thank you to the STA cadets, alumni, employees and parents who assisted Blue Star Moms, members of the Patriot Guard and veterans in packaging 10,000 Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thank you to Sweet Martha's owners, Martha Rossini-Olson, Gary Olson '68, Brenda O'Leary and Neil O'Leary '68 for the donation.

Thank you to Mr. Geroux and Ms. Loufek for the technical support in setting up the SKYPE account that allowed us to hold a two-hour video conference with soldiers in Basra.

For Immediate Release:
December 16, 2009

SOLDIERS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN TO RECEIVE A TASTE OF HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Santa isn’t the only one getting milk and cookies for Christmas! 10,000 chocolate chip cookies are being donated by Sweet Martha’s Cookies to servicemen and women in Iraq for Christmas in a joint effort with the Blue Star Mothers of America and the Exchange Clubs of Minnesota. Additionally, Kwik Trip is donating 300 gallons of milk, sent in successive shipments of 30 gallons each in ice and packaging donated by Carbonic Continental Ice of Burnsville.

Along with the cookies and milk, there will be 10,000 cards designed by local Air Force veteran, Richard Glasgow, designed to thank those who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces. Nearly 2,000,000 of these “Dear American Hero” cards of appreciation have been distributed in the last 3 years. They read, “I am not certain as to how to express my gratitude for all you have done to secure my freedom. Please accept this simple card as a small token of my appreciation,” and are signed, “A grateful American citizen”.

The cookies will be baked starting at 8:30 AM on Saturday, December 19th at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights by Martha of Sweet Martha’s Cookies. Martha will be joined by members of the Blue Star Mothers of America and the Exchange Clubs of Minnesota at 12:00 PM noon to pack the cookies in U.S. Priority Mailers for shipment to a locations in Iraq and Afghanistan for distribution to the troops.

The Blue Star moms and other invited guests present at St. Thomas Academy will also be able to have a live conversation via SKYPE with Chaplain Major John Morris and Lt. Colonel Kevin Olson with the MN Red Bulls in Iraq. Major General Shellito extended his appreciation on behalf of the Minnesota National Guard, "I wish to thank the Blue Star Mother's, Sweet Martha's Cookies and Kwik Trip for their thoughtfulness and delicious way of saying thank you to our service members deployed overseas. One can never overestimate the value of these acts of kindness. Cookies and milk are truly one of our all time 'comfort' deserts that brings a smile to a person's face and puts fond memories into their hearts. Thank you all for caring and for showing it through these acts of kindness."

This all began in 2006, during an on-air conversation, then WCCO Radio host, Brad Walton, asked a soldier serving the 3rd Marine division, “What can we do to support the troops overseas during this coming holiday season?” The soldier paused for a moment and then replied, “Chocolate chip cookies!”

“I could tell just from the tone of his voice that this would be something that would touch the troops in a very meaningful way,” said Walton.

The following week, Walton contacted Martha Rossini-Olson of “Sweet Martha’s” cookies to see how many he could buy and get to the troops for Christmas. Martha responded by saying, “I want to donate 10,000 cookies to the troops.” The partnership was born, and grew, and shipments have continued.

Each time, more groups volunteer to participate and assist in getting the shipments out. Representatives from the Minneapolis and St. Paul Post Office’s will be on hand and veterans and deployed soldiers, who are home on leave, will be loading the packages. The shipping costs for the postage are being covered in full by generous donations from the Exchange Clubs of Minnesota, The Vietnam Vets of America South St. Paul Chapter, The Minnesota Patriot Guard, and HealthNutz of New Brighton.