Submitted Photo Christmas cookies of all types are collected for the annual Airmen Cookie Drive. This Minot Air Force Base photo was taken in 2018 when cookies were being prepared for distribution to first-term airmen at the base.

It’s time to bake cookies again for the annual event when the Minot community provides Christmas cookies to airmen at Minot Air Force Base.

Collections in Minot for the annual Airmen Cookie Drive begin on Dec. 10.

The cookies are distributed to the nearly 1,200 first-term airmen who live in the dorms on base. The airmen are between the ages of 18-20 and are required to live in the dorm. It is probably the first time they have been away from family for the holidays.

Cookies also are delivered to airmen working during the holidays.

The overall goal between the base and downtown is 1,200 dozen cookies, which means one dozen homemade holiday goodies per person for the first-term airmen.

Baking cookies is just one small way the Minot community can show its appreciation to the men and women serving in the military, said Randy Hauck, chair of the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee.

He said they are asking community people to bake a few dozen cookies, as homebaked cookies are really appreciated, and drop them off at the donation station at the Chamber office at 1020 20th Ave. SW.

The drop off dates and times are Dec. 10-13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cookies will be delivered to the base where they will be boxed and distributed to airmen.

The Minot Spouses’ Club at Minot AFB sponsors the annual Airmen Cookie Drive.

For more information contact the Chamber at 852-6000.