Keep those cookies moving to the troops

"Operation Sweettooth" may be the only holiday shopping that is robust this year.

Orders for the free cookies and Rice Krispie treats continue to go into the Piece-A-Cake Bakery, the East Dundee business that serves as the project's headquarters. The treats are ordered by Fox Valley residents and sent to their loved ones, who are serving as U.S. fighting soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So far, the malls have not been busy, but the North River Street bakery has, said Diane Ahrens, who owns the business with her husband, Roger.

"In six months we've shipped about 200 pounds of cookies overseas," she said. "We still have about 30-40 boxes to send."

Each box contains a couple of dozen individually wrapped sugar and holiday cookies for military men and women whom the order has been placed. The sender pays $20-$25 to cover the cost of postage and the Ahrenses donate their ingredients, ovens and some employees to bake the confections.

Local residents and people who place the orders also donate money that is used toward the high cost of sugar, flour, oil and chocolate for the program.

Then, they turn to Operation We Care, an organization made up of Elgin and Dundee Township senior citizens. Members meet weekly and wrap and pack each cookie so they arrive intact.

"I can't begin to say how much they have helped us this year," Diane said. "They have taken a lot of pressure off of us. We drop off the cookies and don't have to worry about them being wrapped correctly."

The program is not just a holiday thing; it goes on all year and been going on since 2004.

Being former U.S. Marines, the couple started "Operation Sweettooth" because they know the importance of receiving treats in the mail. And those treats don't only number a dozen for each soldier, but a couple so they can be shared with their buddies.

Since its start, more than a million pounds of cookies have been shipped to the battlefields. Also, dozens of friendships have started between the Ahrenses and the soldiers.

"We'll do this as long as we have U.S. soldiers there," Diane has said. "It's too important to stop."

The packages take a couple of weeks to reach the soldiers. The last shipment for the year will be sent Dec. 3. They should arrive on Dec. 17.

For more information about "Operation Sweettooth," call (847) 836-6703.