Like any good mother, Sharon Coleman knows that a scrumptious cake paves the expressway to a child’s heart.

Last week, Coleman sent a message of love to her son in the shape of a carrot cake. Spc. Josh Memman, 22, is a member of the Army National Guard and is stationed in Kuwait. His complimentary cake was one of 25 confections sent to military families during April as the result of a recent partnership between the Armed Forces Foundation and BakeMeAWish.com. 

“We sent him a carrot cake, his favorite, and put a special message on it,” said Coleman, an administrative professional for Rush University Medical Center. “I heard about this opportunity through our family readiness group. I’m friendly, very personable, and I like to get involved as much as possible.”

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, BakeMeAWish.com, a premiere online bakery shop founded in 2004, will be preparing delectable desserts for soldiers and military families under the Department of Defense’s America Supports You program.

Each cake is handmade to order and topped with the finest Belgian imported chocolate plaque, which can be inscribed with “Mother,” “Happy Birthday,” “Thank You” or a variety of sentiments. Delivery can take between seven and 14 days to arrive depending on the final destination.

“I think this BakeMeAWish/AFF program is awesome. I think it boosts the morale of the soldiers,” Coleman said. “We sent the cake to Josh because we miss him. This is his fifth year in the military. We’re hoping he’ll be safe, and we’re looking forward to his coming home.”

Douglas Stone, public affairs specialist for the AFF, expressed enthusiasm for the combined effort.

“The Armed Forces Foundation is proud to partner with BakeMeAWish.com to offer this unique opportunity for military families to send a message of love and support overseas to deployed service members,” he said. “Our special program, which began in February, sends 25 complimentary cakes to servicemen and women each month. As part of the program, the families sending the cake pay absolutely nothing. The AFF pays for each cake, and BakeMeAWish.com pays for the shipping charges.”

Soldiers can log onto a secure Web site to order a Mother’s Day cake for their wives and mothers. Conversely, families can send cakes to their moms and wives serving in the Middle East. BakeMeAWish.com will also see an influx of orders for Memorial Day, Father’s Day and the Fourth of July.

Military families interested in sending a free BakeMeAWish cake can contact the Armed Forces Foundation at (202) 547-4713 or visit www.armedforcesfoundation.org.

Tax-deductible contributions to the program through the AFF can be sent to AFF/Bake Me A Wish, Attention: Operation Birthday Cake, 211 East 43rd St., Suite 305, New York, New York, 10017.

The We Care Program is Darien’s own way of remembering local servicemen and women. On Thursdays, JoAnn DiNello and her team of volunteers send packages of toiletries and treats to area men and women stationed in Iraq. Founded by DiNello when the Middle East War began in 2003, the We Care Program is an ongoing labor of love. People contribute a variety of items, including deodorant, eye drops, body wash, soaps, candy and cookies, which DiNello boxes and ships to her beloved soldiers.

Monetary donations are needed to assist We Care. Donations can be made to the Darien VFW Post 3838, P.O. Box 2444, Darien, IL, 60561. Families of soldiers stationed overseas can call DiNello at (630) 852-1165 to request We Care packages for their loved ones.