Operation Home Baked is dedicated to making sure that our armed forces receive some holiday cheer while away from home protecting our country.

What started as a very specific request from a military member deployed in the Middle East for HOMEMADE cookies at Christmas time turned into something so much bigger. Founder Karen Grochowski rounded up volunteers willing to bake for military members far from home and in 2004 Cookies for the Troops was born.

You Are Special joined forces with Karen’s crew in 2009 and the program grew by leaps and bounds. Using the community room at the Franklin Public Library, volunteers packaged cookies and shipped them to service men and women in time for the holidays.

In 2016, packing and shipping of the cookies moved to the Polish Center of Wisconsin where we have forged a wonderful relationship. The Center graciously provides space, volunteers and support for the operation.

Karen stepped back as director, and You Are Special officially took over the program and renamed it Operation Home Baked.

In 2019 Operation Home Baked sent a record 37,920 cookies to military personnel overseas and here at home.

Boxes are filled with at least 5 dozen home baked cookies, candy, and letters of thanks. Those receiving our boxes share with their colleagues.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Operation Home Baked chose not to distribute cookies overseas. On a much smaller scale, our organization provided cookies to local veteran organizations. The treats were a welcomed sight and a new tradition began.

In 2021, Operation Home Baked returned to the Polish Center of Wisconsin and packaged more cookies than ever before. 43,122 cookies were baked and distributed, not only to active service personnel, but to three veteran outreach programs serving the needs of homeless vets in the greater Milwaukee area. To date, more than 470,000 cookies have been sent to locations around the world giving our military personnel a little taste of home at the holidays.

The program continues to grow every year and in 2024, 53,364 cookies were distributed at a cost of $6,359.06. Donations are welcome to ensure that we will always be able to send home baked treats to those serving our country.