Pasadena Woman Makes Batches Of Cookies For U.S. Coast Guard

PASADENA, Md. (WJZ) -- It's Valentine's Day and a sweet time to be a member of the U.S. Coast Guard at Curtis Bay because a Pasadena woman loves to bake cookies.

Ron Matz has more on some heartfelt gifts from a lady who cares.

Say hello to Kathy Martin, the "Coast Guard Cookie Lady."

Once a month she delivers her home-baked cookies to the Coast Guard Cutter James Rankin and the Cutter Sledge in Curtis Bay.

"She's the best, she takes care of us. She's like a second mom to us, especially at Christmas time. She always brings us treats. She asks how we're doing. It brightens our day," said Dexter Johnson, Petty Officer 1st Class USCG.

It started four years ago with a luncheon at West Marine.

"We had the two crews over for lunch four years ago and somehow from that it developed into cookies all the time. We're still having a luncheon every year at the store. The Coast Guard and West Marine has become a nice partner. It's easy for me. I love to bake. It's very much fun for me," said Kathy Martin.

For Valentine's Day, it's Toll House cookies and pecan bars.

"I try to come out once a month, sometimes twice a month if I have time," said Martin.

"For us and our guys it's like having a mom kind of take care of us while we're in port. A lot of these guys are away from their families, they don't really have the benefit of home-cooked meals and treats and she provides that," said Executive Petty Officer Bill Hantzmon.

Martin's generosity doesn't stop here. At Christmas she sends care packages to Coast Guard cutters in the Middle East.

"The U.S. Coast Guard has six cutters patrolling the Bahrain waters all the time. I wanted to do something. I kind of adopted those six cutters for the holidays. Every year we send them boxes for Christmas. We send candies, manufactured cookies, Kleenex, fun stuff and playing cards. It's just enough so everybody gets something," said Martin.

Martin is a partner with a recipe for appreciation.

"The guys and girls are so incredibly grateful. When they see me they just light up, they're just so happy. It just makes my heart expand. It just makes my day," said Martin.

Martin is the store manager at West Marine in Pasadena. Her husband is a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.