Operation Cookie Overload Update: More photo proof that our cookie elves have been busy! (And 5 mailing days left …)

Operation Cookie Overload is in high gear! Just a reminder that all military care packages must be sent on or before Saturday, December 10th, in order to guarantee delivery by Christmas. A huge, enormous, bigger-than-big thanks to the 178 people/groups who are putting together treat-filled Operation Cookie Overload boxes for our troops in Afghanistan. The photos you are sending are amazing! Take a break from your baking and take a peek at a few of them:

#1. “We made cookies for the troops and the kids had a great time,” says Jami from Oregon. “My two sons, two nieces, and nephew (ages 8 to 15) loved doing it. As we were baking it gave us an opportunity to discuss why we were sending them and the importance of people serving our country and being supported by those who are not.”

#2. Kelly from Kansas had a little helper in the kitchen: a sprinkles-wielding three-year-old. (Kelly is part of a group that sent packages to both our Marines and our Army soldier in Afghanistan. Read the letter a 12-year-old from their group wrote to our troops.)

#3. The cutest Mississippi cookies from Linda in — where else? — Mississippi. Her care packages included lots of store-bought treats too, which are perfect because they will stay fresh long after the New Year.

#4. “We ended up making the giant molasses, oatmeal no-bake drop cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, and sugar,” says Sarah from Massachusetts. “The large flat rate box did fill fast. I used tootsie rolls as the packing foam … Should be quite the sugar feast!”

#5. We don’t have photos to share of Kay’s Operation Cookie Overload efforts out in Arizona, but you’ll get the picture: Kay put up a flyer to ask folks from her church to “adopt” a military cookie box by paying for its postage — and she’s had 40 boxes adopted! Twenty will go to our Marines in Afghanistan, and 20 will go to another soldier the group has adopted. “I had never bought a 25-pound bag of  flour before — and we went through two!” says Kay, who baked 1,200 cookies on Sunday. (That is not a typo: 1,200 cookies in just one day!) “The house smells like Mrs. Claus’ or the Gingerbread House!” Her group also enlisted children to write cards, which will be enclosed in the boxes. Kay, thank you for all your Christmas joy!