The pastors, staff and congregation of Alpharetta First United Methodist Church are thanking members of the community for an outpouring of support for the church’s cookie drive in support of troops stationed overseas. The church set a goal of two tons for its annual Operation Oreo cookie drive during the month of June. With the support of the community, the church nearly doubled its goal, collecting 3.7 tons of Oreos which have been sent to U.S. service members stationed at five forward operating bases in Afghanistan. The cookies provide a little taste of home and say thank you to those who stand in harm’s way to protect our freedoms.
Alpharetta Methodist asked its congregation and the community to donate Oreos throughout June. The cookie drive culminated with a standing-room-only patriotic worship service on Sunday, June 29. Stacks of Oreo packages surrounded the altar, while the choir and orchestra played patriotic music and military veterans were recognized.
The Oreos have been sent to military chaplains in Afghanistan who will help distribute them to service members stationed at Forward Operating Bases Fentry and Gamberi, and at Shindand, Kandahar and Bagram Air Bases.
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Operation Oreo began in 2009 with a chance encounter between Senior Pastor Dr. Don Martin and a young soldier aboard a plane. The soldier was returning from duty in Iraq. When Dr. Martin asked him what he missed most while away, the young man replied, without hesitation, “Oreos, Double Stuf!” Every summer since then, AFUMC has collected and shipped packages of Oreos to service men and women overseas. In 2013, the congregation sent one and a half tons of the cookies.
