Every December 4, cookie lovers across the country celebrate National Cookie Day, a moment to indulge in one of life’s simplest joys and share a little sweetness with others. At Soldiers’ Angels, that sweetness takes on a deeper meaning. For many virtual volunteers, baking cookies isn’t just a hobby, it’s a heartfelt way to support deployed Service Members stationed around the world.

When you bake for the troops, every batch tells a story of gratitude, care, and connection. Cookies become more than a snack; they become a reminder of home, a symbol of appreciation, and sometimes even a lifeline of morale during long deployments. Here are just a few of the thousands of Angel volunteers who spend the year baking away for deployed Service Members.

The Cookie Bandits of Fort Worth: Spreading Joy One Batch at a Time

In Fort Worth, Texas, a lively group known as the Cookie Bandits has turned baking into a community event. What started with a few homemade cookies and two care packages grew into a monthly gathering of friends and family who send boxes of love (and plenty of cookies) to troops overseas.

Led by Nicole Hill, the Cookie Bandits decorate their boxes for each season, fill them with baked goods and small surprises, and gather to laugh, share stories, and reflect on the impact they’re making. Whether they’re sending chocolate chip cookies or creative holiday treats, their mission is clear: to remind Service Members they are not forgotten.

Even when pandemic restrictions limited gatherings, the Cookie Bandits found ways to adapt—dropping off baked goods, donating supplies, and keeping the spirit of service alive. For them, baking together is about community, connection, and care that travels thousands of miles.

Angel Shelley: Sweet Treats with a Personal Touch

For Shelley Kalfas, baking for deployed troops is a tradition filled with creativity and heart. After retiring, she wanted to give back, finding the perfect outlet through baking. Her father served in the Navy, so supporting Service Members holds personal meaning for her.

Shelley’s kitchen becomes a festive workshop every time she prepares her care packages. From bright royal-iced sugar cookies for the holidays to timeless favorites like brownies and snickerdoodles, her treats are baked with love and careful attention to what travels well.

Sometimes, Shelley even receives letters or emails from grateful Service Members who received her cookies as reminders that her time and talent truly make a difference.

Christina: Engineering the Perfect Cookie

When Christina McNeil decided to bake for the troops, she brought an engineer’s precision to the task, giving herself the nickname “The Bakineer.” Since 2017, she’s baked and shipped over 20,000 cookies to deployed Service Members through Soldiers’ Angels.

Christina meticulously plans her shipments. She vacuum-seals cookies in sleeves, packs them like puzzle pieces (“cookie Tetris,” as she calls it), and includes a heartfelt note in every box. Her dedication ensures that even cookies traveling halfway across the world arrive fresh, intact, and delicious.

She also created the cutest recipe for “Soldier Cookies,” each ingredient represents the life of a deployed Service Member (brown sugar = dirt, sugar = sand, etc).

How to Bake for the Troops This National Cookie Day

If you love to bake, National Cookie Day is the perfect time to turn your kitchen into a place of service. As a virtual volunteer with Soldiers’ Angels, you can choose baking as your volunteer activity—preparing homemade baked goods and sending them in care packages to deployed Service Members.

Here are a few quick tips for success:

• Stick with sturdy cookies like chocolate chip, oatmeal, or biscotti that can withstand travel.
• Avoid perishable ingredients like cream cheese or frosting that could melt in transit.
• Seal and cushion carefully to prevent crumbling.
• Include a personal note to make your care package even more meaningful.

Whether you send one batch or dozens, your cookies remind our heroes that they are seen, supported, and appreciated. Here are some photos from our other Angel Bakers.

A Batch of Gratitude

On National Cookie Day, as ovens across America fill with the smell of sugar and spice, remember the Service Members spending the holidays far from home. A single cookie can carry the warmth of an entire community—and your kitchen can be where that kindness begins.

So, preheat the oven, grab your favorite recipe, and bake for a cause. When you ship your cookies overseas, you’re sending more than a treat, you’re sending thanks. Get started by joining as a volunteer here.

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