Let the baking begin; Sumter Volunteers urges community to 'Shower Shaw with Cookies'

For more than a quarter century, Sumter Volunteers Inc. has coordinated a holiday effort that shows the area's appreciation and gratitude for our military members at Shaw Air Force Base and those deployed. Shower Shaw with Cookies ensures that each Army or Air Force serviceman or servicewoman receives homemade cookies for Christmas.

The project started in 1993, after Jo Anne Morris saw a flier on the base requesting cookies for Shaw personnel. She took the information to her church, and Grace Baptist members baked 100 dozen cookies. The project has now grown to the point that almost 4,000 dozen cookies, or more than 45,000 individual cookies, were delivered in 2018, she said.

Morris, director of Sumter Volunteers, said that in addition to cookies volunteers last year donated homemade candy, as well, and sent more than 3,000 cards, many handmade by local children, to Shaw personnel. She urges area residents to continue baking for Shaw again this year.

Both individuals, schools, churches, civic organizations such as Sumter's Home Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and even some businesses have participated in past efforts, Morris noted. While the bakers make more chocolate chip and sugar cookies and brownies than other flavors, they can make any kind they like, she said.

Cookies, candy and cards should be homemade, packed in boxes, plastic or tin disposable containers marked with the number of dozens inside. They can be delivered to The Meeting House at Memorial Park, 407 W. Hampton Ave., on Wednesday, Dec. 4, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Lakewood High School Honor Society traditionally helps volunteer bakers by unloading their contributions into the Meeting House and then assisting Shaw personnel when they pick them up the same day.

As Morris always says, "It's a simple way to show our thanks to those who serve us every day. Everyone gets their sweet tooth taken care of."

She asks that volunteer bakers and those who will make cards or write letters, call (803) 775-7423.