Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Calling all local bakers: The hunt is on for cookies — 10,000 of them, if you’re counting — to sweeten the lives of the young men and women stationed at Cannon Air Force Base this holiday season.
Shawna Rai Broussard-Jones’ real job is serving as a first sergeant for the 27th Special Operations Wing Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Cannon, but this week she and the other sergeants have a special mission.
It’s all about sugar and butter and eggs.
“The Cookie Drop is an annual event hosted by the Cannon First Sergeants and the Cannon Spouses with help from members of the community,” Broussard-Jones said. “Volunteers from all over the area, on and off base, band together to bake cookies and yummy treats for our single military members who are living in the dorms.”
She said this delectable event is an Air Force tradition.
“Most Air Force bases around the world host this event annually,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite things to attend. After all, who doesn’t love cookies?”
Broussard-Jones and her crew are looking for help from anyone who loves to bake.
Cookies are being collected at points in Portales and Clovis on Thursday and Friday. There is no need for fancy packaging — the sergeants and their volunteer elves will be repacking all of the donations to make goodie baskets for the airmen. It’s helpful to label your baked goods, especially if they contain possible allergens like nuts.
In Portales, the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce on the square at 100 S. Ave. A will accept cookies from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Friday.
In Clovis, you can drop cookies at The Makery, 112 W. 21st St., from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, or at the Cannon Air Force Base visitor center at the main gate off US 60/84 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Thursday only. Folks with base access can drop cookies at the CAFB Chapel from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. either day.
If you can’t make any of those times or places work, Broussard-Jones urges you to contact the 27th SOW First Sergeants Facebook page to arrange pickup.
“We’ll make it work,” she said. “No cookies will be turned away.”
Need some seasonal music to get you into the baking spirit? The Eastern New Mexico University holiday concert is guaranteed to do that — although you’ll have to either bake late (the concert is at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Campus Union Ballroom at ENMU), or get up to bake at the crack of dawn Friday to meet those deadlines.
Early or late, Broussard-Jones assures us it is worth the effort.
“Baking will put anyone in the holiday spirit and it makes you feel good doing it,” she said. “There is a lot of heart and love put into these cookies — a win/win for everyone.”
Not to mention, we couldn’t find more deserving recipients for these sweet treats.
“Our Air Commando airmen are our most valued assets,” Broussard-Jones said. “They work hard each day to accomplish the mission — no questions asked. As the holidays approach us, it’s important that we think of them and help to bring a little taste of home. We just want to ‘bake’ their day a little brighter.”
Betty Williamson is on board with any mission that includes cookies. Reach her at:
