Spreading Christmas cheer to military members and their families, the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation has co-sponsored its third annual Operation Cookie Swap event.
“The mission of the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation, whose motto is ‘Live Like Mike, Run for Mike,’ is to commemorate the memory and courageous sacrifice of my brother, honor all of our nation’s veterans and service members, and raise funds for the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation, which supports various programs for veterans,” said Kimberly Ollis-Loschiavo, who is Michael’s sister and the co-founder of the foundation.
The foundation was created in 2013 upon Ollis’ ultimate sacrifice, according to Ollis-Loschiavo. In 2013, the a Staten Island native was stationed with the 10th Mountain Division at a forward operating base in Ghazni, Afghanistan, when the base was ambushed by insurgents. Ollis heroically gave his life to shield a fellow serviceman from a suicide bomber. He posthumously received numerous honors in recognition of his valor including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Silver Star, the Audie Murphy Medallion, the Polish Gold Star Medal of Honor, and, in January 2016, the New York City Department of Transportation announced one its new Staten Island Ferry boats would be named after Michael, according to the foundation.
“For the past three years, [the foundation’s] New Jersey committee members, Angela Andre, Mary Jo Kurinzi, Jennifer Osborne and myself, have planned a cookie swap luncheon on Dec. 2, where local community members from Spotswood, Helmetta, Monroe and South River gathered at my residence in Spotswood and bring about four dozen cookies,” Ollis-Loschiavo said.
This year’s swap was co-sponsored by Amici’s Bakery of Monroe, according to Ollis-Loshiavo.
She said each participant makes cookie platters for active and non-active military families in the local neighborhoods.
“As a thank you, each participant receives a cookie platter as well. Each year we have grown and provided cookies to more families,” Ollis-Loschiavo said. “It is a nice way to thank them for their service as we all know how military family members make sacrifices as well to protect all of our freedoms of this country.”
Ollis-Loschiavo said Operation Cookie Swap was inspired by Osborne, who has conducted other Operation Cookie Swaps for members of the U.S. Army since the Persian Gulf War.
“It was introduced by Osborne in 2013 at the local school level in Spotswood when my brother was killed as a way to honor his memory and thank troops stationed around the world,” Ollist-Loschiavo said. “[I] picked up the idea to honor local, active military families who also make sacrifices supporting their loved ones who serve.”
Ollis-Loschiavo said that this year, 72 cookie platters were created and distributed to troops in Germany, Africa and New York, and at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in south central New Jersey and at local VFWs.
“Cookies will be delivered with the help of Cub Scout Pack 35, members of the foundation and foundation committee members to military and non-active military families in Spotswood, South River, Monroe and Helmetta,” Ollis-Loschiavo said. “As an avid runner and member of Moms Run This Town’s Jamesburg chapter, [which is] a nationally recognized running group for mothers, I run a couple of times a week. I had noticed since the death of my brother, blue military star flags, which signify active duty. Unfortunately, our blue star turned to gold in 2013.”
A Gold Star family is one that has had a family member killed in action.
Seeing all of the blue stars in local windows, signifying families with members serving in the military, Ollis-Loschiavo said, “I wanted to thank these families for their sacrifices as they supported their loved ones from the sidelines to courageously protect American freedoms and values. Too often, we have a tendency to appreciate what we have once we have lost it. I didn’t want this to happen again.
“The holidays have lost their sparkle the past five years since the loss of Michael. Operation Cookie Swap has enabled my family to bond, cherishing our memories of Michael and to continue his legacy of serving others, before us. It has been an overwhelming experience hosting the cookie swap.
“Each year our event grows a little bigger with more volunteers contributing to our cause. We have received more inquiries regarding the addresses of active military families residing in our community and it has been a pleasure getting to know and support each and every one of them,” she said.
For more information about the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation, visit www.ssgollis.org or its Facebook page.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].