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Kilili donates cookies to Operation Homefront
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) on Wednesday donated locally made cookies to the CNMI Operation Homefront Support, saying it has been his habit to donate bags of cookies to the group since he came to office in 2009.
From left, CNMI Operation Homefront Support founder Geri Lynn Willis, Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), Operation Homefront coordinator Nola K. Hix, and a serviceman pose with the donation of cookies from Sablan at the delegate’s office in Susupe Wednesday. (Mark Rabago)
“We chip in cookies basically. If there were 300 servicemen and servicewomen, each one will get three. There are three different kinds here. We get them from Herman’s Bakery and we’ve got chocolate chip, Chamorro cookies, and macaroons. I’ve been doing that for years,” he said during a simple turnover ceremony at Sablan’s office in Susupe.
He said the sons and daughters of the CNMI serving in the military are very important to him and sending cookies and whatnot to them during the holidays is a simple yet huge gesture.
“We need to let our servicemen and servicewomen know that they’re in our thoughts. We’re thankful for their service to our country and some of them are in danger zones. Some of them are not but we’re still grateful for their service.”
Sablan said a friend of his is serving in the military and is actually in Liberia.
“She sent me an email that she’s there. So we sent her name to Operation Homefront to make sure she gets a package. We’ve got servicemen and servicewomen all over the world that we need to give these care packages to.”
CNMI Operation Homefront founder Geri Lynn Willis as well as current coordinator Nola Hix were on hand to receive the donation.
“We’re getting all sorts of things from community members. Everything from soba to chicharon to rice crackers, to Diamond Tuna, Spam, and newspapers and magazines. The outpouring of help from the community is just amazing,” she said.
Willis thanked Sablan for the donation. “We really appreciate Congressman Kilili’s support through the years. They’re all cookies and all sorts of cookies. It’s our seventh year and we have sent 2,000 care packages to date.”
CNMI Operation Homefront Support is still taking donations and will have its annual packaging event on Dec. 6 at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe from 8am to 10am.
Last year Operation Homefront sent out 280 care packages. For more information or for donation, contact Hix at 989-6552 or email her at nola.hix@gmail.com.
