This is a story from WJHG about cookies for Warrior Beach Retreat Veterans.  See photos at end of story.

LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WJHG/WECP)

St. Andrew Bay Center is making sure the “treat” part of “retreat” stays in its name this weekend.

The center is a non-profit organization that helps adults with disabilities become independent.  All day Wednesday, clients who go to the St. Andrew Bay Center made the kitchen their home so that when the veterans who are participating in this weekend’s Warrior Beach Retreat come to Panama City Beach they will feel welcome.  “We’re making 25 dozens brownies and 25 dozen cookies,” said Kathie Riley, the Employment Specialist at the St. Andrew Bay Center.  All 25 veterans will each get a dozen of each.
“They love baking brownies and cookies,” added Debbie Bryan, one of the center’s trainers.  Like any recipe, ingredients are key.  “The mixes, and the cookies and the other stuff that we made before, everything was donated,” said Riley.  Although cooking so many treats may seem like a sticky situation, volunteers say it’s a piece of cake.  “I like to help out and stuff,” said Shannon Cluff, a client at the center. Employees say learning how to correctly use ingredients isn’t the only lesson their clients will learn from this experience.  “We’re teaching math skills,” said Bryan. “As far as cooking.”  “We’re making cookies here but you could translate that into making something else at home,” added Riley.  Riley and Bryan say they are able to help so many others because of the help and generous donations from the community. That’s why they enjoy participating in acts of kindness like this one.  “They’re learning to give back to the community just like the community gives to us,” said Riley.  Make no mistake the group of clients knows exactly why they’re doing this and who they’re doing it for.

“My daughter’s in Iraq,” said Cluff.
“You must be a proud mom?” asked Samantha Read.
“Yeah I am.”