Sinful Treats relaunches 'Treats for our Troops' campaign

Nursing staff on one of the LRMC medical/surgical wards pose with some of the absolutely scrumptious baked goods from Sinful Treats. The "Treats for our Troops" were sponsored by the Sinful Treats bakery and their customers. Photo: Soldiers' Angels.
The Elk Grove Citizen reports about our friends at Sinful Treats, who are again doing a drive to treat our troops at Landstuhl. True to their name, they are absolutely SINFUL and a huge hit among the patients and staff here.

You can sponsor a treat for as little as $2 at the Sinful Treats web site here.

Local dessert shop to re-launch campaign for troops
By Raina LeGarreta

Sinful Treats Gourmet Pastries and Desserts in Elk Grove are once again launching their campaign to donate familiar, tasty delights to United States soldiers overseas.

The Citizen reported last year that Mariel Black, owner of the Sinful Treats Gourmet Pastries and Desserts shop in Elk Grove, thought of a way to send soldiers treats and get the community involved.

She wanted to offer the troops something they were familiar with; tasty desserts that would remind them of home.

Black was inspired to send the goodies overseas by her cousin whose husband was stationed in Germany; the community of Elk Grove was more than receptive to Black’s idea.

Black soon chose to donate the treats through Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit organization that provides aid and comfort to men and woman of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

Before she knew it, her “Treats for Troops” drive took off.

Black was put in contact with M. Phillips, vice president of Warrior Medical Support Europe, who facilitated the project in 2010, and will be doing so this year.

“I’m honored to distribute the delicious treats to our patients and staff again this year... I’d like to take care of these donations personally,” Phillips wrote an email to Black.

Sinful Treats completed the project in 2010 by packaging the treats and sending them to a U.S. hospital in Germany where American troops are treated.

Although the workload of Black’s business prompted her to hold off on doing the successful desserts drive last year, many people were curious as to when she’d start it up again, encouraging the shop to get their “baking hands” ready.

Black received a letter from Brittany Paredes - the wife of a U.S. soldier who is stationed in Germany – that encouraged her to start the donation project once again.

“Our local military hospital Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is the middle ground when transporting injured soldiers from Afghanistan,” Paredes wrote. “I’ve been reaching out to various organizations asking for a care package donation, or simply a few letters of appreciation.”

Paredes wrote that her goal was to help bring a smile to the brave men and women during their recoveries.

“We’re really excited to start this up again,” Black said of the campaign.

In November and December, the treats can be purchased online at SinfulTreats.net, by phone at (888) 994-6385, or by visiting the shop located at 5650 Whitelock Parkway, Ste. 110.

The desserts can be purchased for $2 each, or you can buy five treats for $10.

If you choose the second payment option, Sinful Treats will add one more to make it six desserts.

The treats will be sent to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in January.

“I was told that after the holidays things quiet down and many soldiers feel forgotten at that time… we figured January would be the best time to send the packages over,” Black said. “We will cover all packaging and shipping cost and guarantee that every single treat gets to Germany.”

This time around, Black is encouraging people to write notes or letters to the soldiers, which will be included in with the treats when shipped.

“I thought it would be an added surprise for the soldiers to receive notes of appreciation from us here at home,” Black said. “Last time we sent 540 treats. This time we’re aiming for at least 1,000 treats."

Thank you Mariel, everyone at Sinful Treats, and your sponsors for launching the 'Treats for our Troops' drive again this year!

You may sponsor a treat for as little as $2 at the Sinful Treats web site here.

A critical care nurse at the LRMC Intensive Care Unit poses with some of the absolutely scrumptious baked goods from Sinful Treats. The "Treats for our Troops" were sponsored by the Sinful Treats bakery and their customers. Photo: Soldiers' Angels.