OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS 200

OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS 2009

(click here to watch and listen to our message)

Our Santa Clause is going to be at our Military Family Dinner! He was the best Santa!!!!!!

WHAT WENT INTO THIS YEAR'S PACKAGES?

WE REALLY NEED VOLUNTEERS THAT CAN START TO DO CALLING to businesses for 2010 Operation Ensuring Christmas and Recruting Board MEmbers and Vice Presidents, PR, Fundraising, Film editing, Website design also, Advertising!!! Sign up at info@letterstosoldiers.org.

Donations for shipping being accepted here at

info@letterstosoldiers.org.

Thank yous for our Christmas Presents back from Iraq and Afghanistan: From Army Reserve Battalion:

From our friends of Army Reserve Brigade in Iraq:
3rd Tour

From Army Reserve Sustainment Brigade :

"Dear Lance, Parker, Aubrey, and Gavin at Lewiston Elementary School,

I am glad that you wrote us a letter. Thanks So much. It means so much to have letters sent to us. I love reading and to know that you took your time and wrote. My name is SFC B. My home is ... I have two children. A girl and a boy. The weather is cold and wet here, alot of mud...My job is going to the Post Office and making sure that each post office is doing what they are supposed to do. We have guidelines that have to be followed and we are the ones to supervise them. Well I have to go for now. Please write when you can. Thanks for your support.

SFC B."

Thank you so much to the 35 members of the Payson, Utah Orr family for collecting 35 coats, toys, and other items for the homeless. And Jana McDaniel for making hats. Thank you also Brittney Naverez for infant clothes for the 150 plus small children in the Shelter and Utah County families. This year thanks to the generosity of families like these, many who would freeze and go without Christmas will get much love from you and your efforts. Thank you also ANgela of UVRMC REhab department for collecting Sub For Santa items for one military family with father in Afghanistan, and mother who was hospitalized and could not pay the medical bills. United Way Sub 4 Santa of Utah County picked everything up, and we delivered wrapped and labelled presents to one military Sub 4 Santa family in Lehi for mom and 5 kids.

5 cats need 9 months of foster care.... do you know any cat people? Can you help those soldiers who are helping please?

Augusta:CATS - Izzy, Hot Pocket and Thumper: Need 9 months (ASAP) / Never been around dogs / shy at first

Columbus:CATS - Angel/Embry: Need 9 Months (ASAP) / OK with Dogs / Never been around little kids

If anyone can help contact Sarah A. James at MD-GASP@hotmail.com (hotmail.com) 410.707.7636

Sarah A. James

MD/DC Volunteer Director
Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet
www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org
www.mvpsanctuary.org

Click picture to see more
The Biggest Thank you and Congratulations goes out to Payson, UT Walmart Employees that volunteered 185 hours on this project and raised $3,000 for the shipping costs of the care packages.

"Hello,

We discussed doing a sub-for-santa project for one of the Utah soldier's families. I am a social worker at Utah Valley hospital rehab dept. and am anxious to get started.

Please e-mail me back asap.

Thanks!

Angela" ( we have received a request for a family with husband in Afghanistan we hope they can help this Christmas HOliday)

12/02/09

Dear Soldiers,

Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives this Christmas/holiday season. It is because of you that we have the freedom to celebrate this time of the year. We appreciate all you do and encourage you to keep the faith that you will be home soon. Hopefully our cards, letters, and reading material will brighten your day and make your task more bearable.

We wish you peace, joy, and hope this holiday season,

8th Grade Students at East Jay Middle School

225 East Water Street; Portland, Indiana 47371

8th Graders from East Jay Middle School Care

LETTERS TO SOLDIERS 2009

"All of the eighth grade’s Enrichment/Remediation Classes at East Jay Middle School are happy to be able to send cards and letters, along with some paperback books, to the troops this Christmas season. The students felt this would be one way to let their character trait of Caring reach out and touch the lives of many who need to know we care and are proud of what they do to maintain our freedom every day of the year. (This picture shows a few representatives from each of the ER classes who assisted in decorating, sorting, and packaging the cards.)"

The West Hills Christian School in Portland, Oregon wrote the most touching and positive letters this Christmas. Thank you

Flat Rate box cost is $9.95 per box. IF you wish to send one yourself. We finished the last of the 339 care packages and labelling for the 96th and are waiting for USPS to pick them up. Finished also the labelling, customs forms and packaging of the 106 care packages for the ARmy Reserve. All done and shipped out 11/24/09 picked up by Edward of ORem USPS, and labels done through Endicia.com who have been partnering with us since 2007. Thank you Edward, retired ARMY at 50, for being so happy to help with this effort and your great ARMY stories. We look forward to meeting a retired ARMY chaplain living here in Orem.

About the 339 CAre Packages we mailed to the Army Reserve We have spoken to many soldiers including LTC F., LTC B. and SFC B. who wrote us 4 letters by mail for the students of Lewiston Elementary about how special the packages were. Thank you so much. We hope to get a video of the packages and soldiers in the future.

"Hi Lance, Parker, Aubrey, and Gavin,

I am glad that you wrote us a letter. Thanks so much, It means so much to have letters sent to us. I love reading and to know that you took your time and wrote. My name is SFC B.... I have two children. A girl and a boy. The weather here is cold and wet, a lot of mud...My job is going to the Post Office and making sure that each post office is doing what they are supposed to do. We have guidelines that have to be followed and we are the ones who supervise them. Please write when you can. Thanks for your support."

"Denise,

I received the boxes you sent me the day before thanksgiving. I was sooo impressed! Thank you sooo much!!! I watched the video of the Payson Highschool twice in one sitting because I could see how much effort went in to the production of getting the families and support and the packing .......I got the camera but but wasn't able to take pictutes of us opening the boxes. I'm planning on a group lunch here soon. CPT John, the Public Affairs Officer, will do a video when he gets back from leave.

LTC F."

"I was in T.over the week-end. I saw the results of the boxes that were sent there. Soldiers were lending me their cards and sharing the goodies. From the looks of it, it was a very appreciated gift.

I thank you for them. It made them happy and surprised that someone was thinking of them."

Brian

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Caveats: FOUO

"Yes Ma'am. You can address to either one of us and they will be taken care of. Again, we appreciate all of your efforts as well as that of all your staff and volunteers efforts to make our holidays brighter."

S.CSM, USA

Task Force

AF, Afghanistan

"You can mail me the packages and I'll make sure the command get them and sends them out to the soldiers. Mail is pretty good here, but give me some lead time because mail can be slow in country. My address is: D... ...

Thank you,"

CH (CPT) S.

"Thank you Chaplain Y. and thank you Chaplain for

taking care of my soldiers during this crucial time. Feel free to contact me if

you need anything on this end."

1LT Kyle MAED

"Denise,

Here is the name and email address for the chaplain in Afghanistan

who is supporting the soldiers from the 405th Civil Affairs Battalion.

She is: Chaplain (Captain) S. Her email is:

Chaplain S. will be able to help you with appropriate names

and mailing addresses to get those wonderful packages to the

soldiers from Utah."

v/r

CH Tom Y.

CH (LTC) T.Brigade Chaplain

Civil Affairs Brigade

Iraq

"Good Afternoon Sir/Maam,

My name is Bernice and your web page and the mission that you guys are doing is amazing. i am contacting you with a question and concern. my daughter just graduated highschool, she is 19 years old, graduated boot camp and from her school got shiped to afghanistan. she still has 12 more months in Kandahar Afghanistan. i was wondering if you could send her some letters filled with love, and also maybe a package or two here and there. this will be her 2nd time missing every single holiday because of the marine corps. this is her 2nd time eating at the chow hall for tkhanksgiving. and working during halloween. i miss her dearly and only talked to her twice since sees been deployed. the last time i talked to her their was a rocket atack over the phone. please add her to your list. thank you

her name and addrees is......"

LCpl , B.

"Hello, our company is interested in sending letters to soldiers this year. Can you please let me know any requirements or specifications that we need to follow? Also, how much does it cost and where do we send them? Thanks for your help!"

Brittany

Brittany Gandolfo

Event Manager

Hilton Americas - Houston

1600 Lamar St

Houston, TX

"To Whom it May Concern,

My name is Adam Spisak and I work for Lockheed Martin Enterprise Operations in Cherry Hill, NJ. We are having a month long initiative to support the troops with donations. We intend on working with your organization and donating to your efforts. We are going to utilize your list of items to donate, then ship them for you usage.

If there is anything we should know about the entire process, please let me know.

We look forward to working with you and contributing to your cause.

Sincerely, "

Adam Spisak

Strategy Engineer - GSCM

Operations Leadership Development Program

2009 AUCTION
Thank you Robert's Crafts for $150 Basket of Scrapbooking supplies for one of Auction items, Harmon's $50 certificate, BYU Signed Football by Coach MEndenhall and players, BYU Sweatshirt, MACEY's $20 Certificate, Sunflower Market $10 certificate, 2 Broadway Cinema Tickets, and more bidding . Highest bid so far for Signed BYU Football is $100. Thank you Jerry

Come see our Silent Auction BYU Signed Football by Coach Mendenhall and players Won by Sandy Cottam in Ogden, Overnight stay at Landmark Inn in Park City worth $165 Highest bid is $155 won by Audie Taylor of Sandy, Roberts Crafts Scrapbooking Supply Basket worth $150 highest Bid at $50, HARMONS $50 gift card highest bid is $25, Jump on it 2 hour Family pass Won by Pam of Orem, Los Hermanos $25 Certificate highest bid $25, two Broadway or Tower Cinema Movie Tickets Won by Rebecca, Cheesecake Factory $50 certificate highest bid is $60, Pampered Pet overnight Pet Sitting for small dog worth $25 highest bid $25, Two beautiful Large Square Frames highest bid $12, In N Out Vintage New Tshirt in bag Won By Tony and Jessica, US Navy Tshirt highest bid $5, Cabelas II Amendment Tshirts XL highest Bid $10, Cabelas red white and blue Tshirts M, L highest bid $5, Alex Boye Spirit CD highest bid $10, Shaun”Hammer Hands” Barrowes finalist on American Idle CD highest bid $10, See all and bid at http://www.letterstosoldiers.org/operationensuringchristmas09.htm Auction bidding closes Oct. 31^st, 2009..

Attention: Col. M., We have 45 packages that will be ready in a couple of weeks to ship to Afghanistan for your helicopter unit that just shipped out last week. Please let us know the POC for receiving packages for them thank you.

From one of the AR wives that came to our packaging party:

"You do such a great job for the soldiers. I hope they appreciate it."

Pam

Loading donated items collected since last Christmas and pick up at companies:

"The Army is here to pick up donated items"

"The Army Strong are here"

The Army truck getting filled, will there be enough room?
Is the ARmy being shown up by WalMart Women Melissa and Michelle? These women have some muscle.

The ARmy is startin to sweat, not the ladies.

The Army and WalMart strong did the job!

the ARmy Truck needs to gas up on way to NEWAYS pick up

The Army is in Cowboy Country now!

Where can Save A Dog & Kids "Letters to Soldiers" get one of these trucks?

Bad truck but I want to drive an MRAP some day!

Sgt. D. and Spec. W. unload with more Payson WalMart Employees at the Payson HIgh School

The Army boys are startin to get tired

Our bad truck, Not!, and a pallet of Tahitian Noni Chews, They delivered 3 pallets wow.
the Payson WalMart crew and Army crew

The Army Crew is happy to be done! They got their workout while the rest of the unit hiked the G Thanks Army Reserve for the great truck, how can we hire you full time?

Packaging day started out early with everyone lining up to make packages before we

even got set up.
Kathy . came from Nephi to volunteer, her husband was in the Army

Commander Edwards of the Timpanogos VFW post always has a big smile on his face Payson VFW Commander Bill Brooks commanded a spectacular Flag Ceremony with AF VFW Commander Edwards and The Civil Air Patrol Cadets.

Bev Jameson, who contacted us when she heard this project was coming to Payson, ran the Letters to Soldiers Card making table, banner making and sang with Talent Qwest singers.

As packages were filled and taking up the Gym floor, Coralee gave us the great idea of making a Christmas Tree.

Silent Auction table was a popular place
WalMart Employees bid on the auction items also. We are excited to find out how many hours the employees worked to raise the remainder of shipping costs.

The Deseret News and Daily Herald talked about our project.

My longtime volunteers are always there: Kathy and Rebecca .

Our soldiers built the Christmas tree of boxes at the end of the day. Thank you Army Reserve

The Balloon man will make something out of balloons for children as long as you need him to because he does it for the kids Sgt. D.

H. and S. of the and WalMart Employees helped write alot of the 500 customs forms for the care packages. There is so much to write with all the items listed that are in the box. Husbands and wives of the ARmy Reserve worked to make sure the soldiers in Afghanistan get their packages

The Balloon man put smiles on so many kids faces Talent Qwest singers gave us many moving and patriotic moments with their powerful songs. What amazing talent

the whole family got into the packaging Finishing the tree

These won't fit on the tree Spc D.finishes putting customs forms on the packages	How is that for a tree? Or Chocolate Bell?
The clean up crew Thank you Dr. Brad from High Five Chiro, families of ARmy Reserve, WalMart family, Payson City Denise, Bev, Karen, KC and Talent Qwest singers, and our Lanternlane and son	"Load em up and move em out"
Wow who is that guy? Michael was amazing
Thank you ARmy Reserve for the help with all the donated items, care packages and loading and unloading, loading and unloading My neighbors wondered "Why does Denise have an Army truck in front of her house?"	unloading all the 500 packages
	Wow they all fit in my house

You all made this year’s Operation Ensuring Christmas the most amazing. Thank you to all for making these 500 Christmas Care Packages the most wonderful: (This year over 2,000 handmade Christmas Stockings were delivered)

    Tahitian Noni International again gave 9,000 binders for Operation Military Kids and HAFB kids along with 3 pallets of Noni Chews shared by the 500 care packages, Operation Military Kids and the 405^th.

    Nature’s Sunshine donated 900 Chewable Vitamin Bottles put into the 500 care packages and shared with HAFB.

    Neways gave 500 Personal Care Products for the care packages.

    Phillips Handcrafted Chocolates and Caramels donated over 600 Chocolates and Caramels out of their shop before they leave for a mission in Japan.

   Army Recruiters Sgt P., Sgt. P.2 and SSG W. and Victoria picked up the Chocolates and Caramels, kept them cool in the fridge and cut up the caramels wrapped them, and made zip lock packages for each package.

    Michelle and Melissa of Payson WalMart loaded up ½ a truck of donated items with the soldiers, WOW!!

All the 20 plus WalMart Employees that have worked so hard putting out flyers, helping the day of moving donations to the Payson HS Gym, helping all day at event with packaging, writing customs forms, loading, and more.

    Thank you Dave Chipman from UF9th for coming down from SLC to help with the sound.

    Sgt. D.his wife and 1 mos. Old baby and two kids, Spc. W., Spc D., , Sgt. K., Sgt. H. worked hard all day to write most of the custom’s forms and finalize the packages and stack them, and helped unload the 500 care packages at our storage in Orem with their kids, Sgt. H. and famkilyworked hard to finish the packages with customs forms, stacking them into a Hershey’s Bell in the center of the gym, and run the sound system, SFC N. and wife who started the first half of customs forms table and commanding the ARmy Reserve and FRG, and other families that helped us with your truck to move all donations and all 500 packages after packing.

B. family for coming to make special, cards, banners, video wish and special package for your dad in Iraq. And Sgt. J.

    Michael and 8 other singers with Talent Qwest were so amazing, and really care about our troops.

    Lanternlane sang her beautiful songs about our soldiers, and is giving download of one of her songs to the soldiers that we will add to the DVD of the Concert, packaging, Christmas wishes in all the 500 packages..

Ann Jensen was crowned Queen with an award plaque and gifts for recruiting 50 stocking makers and collecting 1,100 beautiful handmade Christmas Stockings. All her recruits want to do this again next year.

    The Ogden VFW chapter donated $100 and Commander Edwards of the Timpanogos Chapter came to set up his VFW table and donated $200 for the soldiers. He told us about his Son In Law in Afghanistan, and the commander’s daughter spent 29 days in the hospital with pneumonia with 4 kids at home. We hope to find volunteers to come help her clean her home, and have contacted the VA and State Weatherization Dept. about her broken furnace that hasn’t worked since the cold started. Many of our deployed military’s wives struggle back home while holding the homefort down. We need to reach out more to them as a community. The Commander’s grandson just returned from Iraq.

    Bev Jamaison came to volunteer all day and run the Card Making and Banner making tables for all the children while our Wonderful KC “The Balloonman” Williamson made kids animals out of balloons all day long.

    Bodi of Hank’s Signs in Payson made and donated the best huge banner that guided event goers at the entrance of Payson City.

    Kathy Adams, wife of former military, came up from Nephi and helped all day in her digital’s and wrote the soldiers a poem in her letter expressing how our soldiers keep us safe.

    Taylor Audio Shawn set up sound, projector and screen for us all to watch video footage of past Operation Ensuring Christmas years of packages to our military.

    Coralee and Denise of Payson City set up the tables, the donated items on 10 tables, and then came back at 7:45am to finish setting up and running the event all day.

    Payson Queen sang the most beautiful National Anthem I have heard in a while.

    The Mayor of Payson Burtis Bills wrote some letters for the Troops and told us about a few of them and how his serving in Vietnam helped him understand how much a letter or package from home meant to a soldier overseas.

    The Payson VFW, AF VFW and the Civil Air Patrol Cadets did the most beautiful extended Flag Ceremony Color Guard with everyone around the room saluted or stood with their hand on their heart with such respect and appreciation.

    The Civil Air Patrol Wing Commanders came with cadets to tell everyone about their wonderful program for youth to do service, learn respect, self discipline, and maturity each of these cadets always displays. We are so proud and grateful to these wonderful young people of Utah.

    Chet a VFW we met at the VFW Convention from Brigham City made 12 handcrafted Wooden Cribbage Boards for the soldiers packages being put into the unit commander’s packages he brought down himself and received a special certificate of appreciation.

    Shirleen Auxiliary Commander of the DAV, Disabled Veterans of Utah, collected 465 Handmade Christmas Stockings, $42, andvolunteered all day with other DAV members from Brigham and also received an award as the 2^nd runner up of stocking making,

    Our number one volunteer, Pam Wiscombe, responsible for making 165 Christmas Stockings with fabric she collected along with so many beautiful donated items for packages, the silent auction and the over 300 donated certificates of dinners, money certificates, events, activities and other great prize giveaways we gave to almost all people who came to the event and volunteers, was not able to come to Payson with her husband, 3 mos. old baby, and 3 yr old daughter because they have not owned a car in 5 yrs, but will get a very special plaque of appreciation and service made especially by MgGees Trophy and Engravings thanks to Rachelle who made the most beautiful matching blue plaques that made our certificates look so gorgeous.

    Sandy of Dalton’s Restaurant brought the best sandwiches, salad, great clam chowder and chicken soups and chips, and the Lion’s Club sold homemade cookies and drinks.

    Claudia Keyworth donated 440 Get Ready to Heal DVDs for the packages and spoke to military families.

    Connie from Operation Military Kids and 4-H program was able to take a pallet of 13,000 Tahitian Noni Chews and will be sharing the 8,000 Tahitian

Noni zip up binders for the kids with HAFB HIllfield School.

    Liane brought office supplies, hair clips, treats, personal care products she collected all year with her husband who helped out and her tiny kids from Orem.

    Wyn veteran from Payson walked down to give us a $10 donation to help send a package and another local resident said she would have loved to be more involved if she had known about this special project and gave us a $20 donation.

    And so many more volunteers lined up today to make a care package for a soldier, make a special letter, banner or card, listen to the most talented singers, and enjoy the rewarding experience of saying thank you to our troops that risk and sacrifice so much with their families to protect and serve us.

    Lana managed all the WalMart Volunteers for the past two weeks that worked so hard.

    Chiropractor from High Five CHiro Dr. Brad came to help us loaded up all the items at the end of the day along with the soldiers that loaded up the 440 care packages, drove in a convoy with their Army truck to Orem and then unloaded them and carried them in. We will be having a party to finish the customs forms, put in the DVDS, tape up all the care packages with prepaid USPS labels, and celebrate this project.

    Thank you Ipreserve for making a DVD of all the pictures of all packaging parties, from military overseas with our packages, footage of past events and great songs written by our Utah performers over the last 3 years.

    Thank you to all the schools from Cache Valley down to Washington County in St. George. Thank you Steven Duke, DAV Commander down there and your volunteers for bringing up those cards and Sheresse’s husband bringing Cache Valley school cards down from Logan. Thank you all superintendents, principals and teachers for making so many beautiful cards that each package could have over 10 cards each from Utah Students. Thank you Karl Maeser Prep Academy for the 5 beautiful banners.

Thank you to all the volunteers that made this such a HUGE Care Packaging event. WE were just $850 short of our goal to raise $4,440 to pay for the shipping of 339 care packages to the 96^th Brigade, and 105 care packages to the Battalion. We hope in the next few weeks before filling all the boxes with our DVD of Christmas Wishes and last minute donated items, 440 Calling Cards, and that we can raise the rest of it maybe with a weekend booth at Cabelas that offered that to us and getting the word out.

Squadron Leader H. from HAFB came and picked up 300 handmade Christmas Stockings, Nature’s Sunshine Vitamins, Candy, and other items we had left.

If we have not mentioned someone it is because there were so many volunteers that made this project special Video of the event, concert and Christmas wishes coming soon.

Karl Maeser Preparatory Academy invited us to come help their high school students make banners for our troops Wednesday:

Wow we have a budding artist here!!!
What amazing artists made the most beautiful banners
Jared made a special one for his father serving in Iraq in the ARmy Reserve 96th. McKenzie, at this school, also has a father in the UTNG

Short press release to send out as reminder to everyone Friday:

“ THIRD ANNUAL OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS Saturday Oct. 17^th from 10am to 5pm, Payson City is hosting at their High School Gym, 1050 S. Main st. (right off first Payson exit all the way to other end of Main st.), the biggest packaging day for 100s of families to make 444 care packages for the Army Reserve Brigade and Battallion, and extra items for the HAFB and Operation Military Kids. Food, Giveaways and Silent Auction of amazing getaways, shopping sprees, and dinners, Miss Payson Royalty will sing the National Anthem with the VFW and Civil Air Patrol Cadets Color Guard, and Flag Ceremony at Noon, LAnternlane, After the Storm, Steel n Thunder, Julie Morrow and other Utah Performers will sing all day while we make the Video Christmas Wishes, Big Banners of Thank yous, Christmas Cards along with the 1000s of cards Utah School Districts have made, and special care packages of donated items by Utah companies and made by Utah volunteers. Fun activities for the whole family.”

10/15/09 There are so many HEROES in this year's Operation Ensuring Christmas Project listed below, but we must say a very Special Thank You to RAy Phillips of Phillip's Handcrafted Chocolates for helping us get chocolates made in Utah at the last minute for our soldiers. Before Brother Phillips and his wife leave for their LDS Mission in Japan, he was able to gather enough chocolates for us to pick up tomorrow morning in SLC for the care packages.

10/15/09 GAME PLAN: Letters to Soldiers is getting all items here organized for pick up, schools are calling right and left of where to drop off cards at Payson High School Gym and donations, and one Ward in Bountiful raised $200 and a package of cards. I hope once I get Atty General’s $1,000 donation I will have raised all shipping costs for the 96^th Brigade of $3,390 and then all raised at event will be for the $1,050 for the 405^thCivil Affairs Battalion packages. We should be able to do that I hope with the Silent Auction and the Payson WalMart Employee’s “Volunteerism Pays Back” hours they are donating. It is always a miracle, thanks to all the people that give so generously, how each year we have raised enough to ship these many packages.

Last minute final updates and needs: Friday pick up of all Donated items from 3 locations, and set up of Gym with at least 8 volunteers: 2 from Army Reserve and truck, Coralee from Payson City, 4 WalMart volunteers and Denise from Letters to Soldiers. Need signs from Hank’s Signs of Payson put up with some kind of chords on bleachers behind performers. After the Storm, Lanternlane and 10 other singers have committed to come sing all day Saturday with MC Rich Bonaduce.

Saturday Oct. 17^th (hopefully the Deer Hunt Opening won’t be the only thing on everyone’s mind and they won’t forget Operation Ensuring Christmas lol) 8am to 10 am set up of all items on packaging tables as follows:

1) NEWAYS personal Care products (we need 444 gallon Zip Lock Baggies still if anyone can call a local grocery store and pick up please update: EVan and Andy at Payson WalMart are also rounding those up we think, Way to Go Payson WAlMart and Employees that are volunteering so many hours),

            2) Tahitian Noni Chews (1 complete box of 12 per packages) brought in from 3 pallets dropped off by Noni outside gym (Operation Military Kids taking one pallet Sat, 405^th taking one pallet Friday back with them, and still waiting to hear from Hill Air Force Base about being able to pick up 1 pallet along with 300 stockings, 300 vitamins and 300 Personal Care Products for their packages),

3) 900 Bottles of Nature’s Sunshine Chewable Vitamins,

4) Rice Krispie Treats , Candy Canes, Pecan Rolls, and Incredible Phillips Handcrafted Chocolates!!!

5) 60 minute calling cards, books, office/writing supplies

6) Homemade Christmas Stockings coming from Brigham City, Logan, Bountiful, SLC VFW, Utah County, and Washington County (estimated 1,900) to be filled with treats

7) bracelets, jewelry, and other specially gathered items like books, gifts, etc.

8) 444 Customs Forms to be filled out and put into clear envelopes onto finished packages (339 for the 96^th we have APO for and 105 for the 405 still waiting on APO)

9)      Card making scrapbooking table with 1000s of cards from Utah Schools already collected

10) Banner Making to be put into last 10 boxes for commanders of each company before packaging them marked specially

11) CDs of local artists, DVDs of Operation Ensuring Christmas Concert

12) Get Ready to Heal DVDs

13) Boxes stacked but not sealed because we still have Christmas Video wishes filmed that day to be made and last minute donations to arrive next week

OPERATION MILITARY KIDS IS TAKING 1 PALLET OF NONI CHEWS and arranging pick up of 8,000 Binders at Pride Warehouse in SLC

HAFB arranging pick up of one Tahitian NONI Chews Pallet and 300 Vitamin bottles and other items Saturday

Army Reserve taking 1 pallet of Noni Chews Friday after drop off

SATURDAY OCT. 17^TH: We need 10 volunteers to load up 405^th truck with 444 finished care packages at 6pm, 10 at 5pm to help to clean up Gym, and 4 volunteers to help unload the care packages in Orem 851 E. Highcountry Dr. (off of 1600 N. Orem exit to 800 E. left up Skyline Dr, 2^nd right at Highcountry dr.) WalMart has 24 volunteers committed to help Saturday. 405^th should have at least 2 and their truck. (please forward this to Lana at WalMart in charge of their volunteers)

Letters to Soldiers will need volunteers to continue to collect funds for shipping from Silent Auction, last donations, edit and produce the Christmas Wishes Videos for 444 boxes, finish the boxes, print out prepaid shipping labels, and arrange for USPS for pick up.

Orem, Springville, Lindon and AF WalMart Donations Depts have been requested to give $100 donation to support Payson WalMart effort but none of them have responded. Could Evan of Payson WalMart call them to follow up please? We hoped to get more stocking stuffers since Kara’s Chocolates and others fell through. BEST BUY donation request of 444 blank DVDs awaiting response.

Finally and more importantly THANK YOU to PAYSON CITY CORALEE, KARL, DENISE, Mayor, High School Cheerleaders, and Queen, Payson WalMart Evan, Lana, and all employees volunteering, Taylor Audio, Lanternlane and her groups, After The Storm, Talent Qwest, Hank’s Signs, SF, Orem and Provo Fed Ex Kinkos, Ipreserve video production, Get Ready to Heal, Dupli.com, McGees Trophy and Engraving, Positive Music Downloads, BEST BUY, Office Max, Staples, NEWAYS, Tahitian Noni, Nature’s Sunshine, and all the restaurants, and other companies that donated certificates and food, Payson Lion’s Club, American Legion, VFW, DAV, Civil Air Patrol and Operation Military Kids USU 4-H, All Utah School Districts, teachers and students, Karl Maeser Prep Academy, All Utah Church groups and Stocking makers for all the great donations and homemade items, volunteers that made phone calls all year, the media that helped get the word out about the event, and so many volunteers who helped make this project and event possible with all their hard work.

UPDATE 10/13/09:   SFC N.of the Rear Deck Command of the Army Reserve Battalion with 105 soldiers in Afghanistan has committed two soldiers Sgt. D. and W. and their truck in Pleasant Grove to help do pick up of donated items in Orem of 2 pallets of collected items for past year drop off, then onto Springville NEWAYS Intl. Personal Care products, and then onto Spanish Fork to Nature’s Sunshine Vitamins warehouse to pick up 900 bottles of Chewable Vitamins for the Soldier’s packages, and then dropping all these donated items off at the Payson High School Gym. Tahinian Noni is dropping off 3 pallets of delicious Noni Raspberry Chews also. Thank you ARmy Reserve for stepping up to the task. Pride Transport that has been storing 26 pallets of 8,000 Tahitian Noni Binders for the Operation Military Kids and HAFB Hillfield Elementary offered a back up semi truck if local Utah County had not stepped up

10/01/09 From:

Kurt Bestor September 29 at 6:31am

"I was very impressed by the DVD. When are you proposing a concert?

Kurt"

09/25/09 From our wonderful Utah Attorney General: Join his FACEBOOK
"
Mark Shurtleff "You are welcome for the donation! I hope those soldiers have a great Christmas. Message me where to send the check!"

10/12/09 Positive Music Downloads is donating 210 CDS of "Spirit" by Alex Boye. Thank you Denise and Gaylon Rust.

Denise,

"Thank you for your kind invitation to Governor Herbert to attend this event. Unfortunately, he will be unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts. Please pass on his regrets and best wishes."

Regards,

Andrea H.

10/09/09 From one of the units we are shipping 339 care packages to that is very dear to us here in Utah with Letters to Soldiers that helped us last year to support other deployed units from Utah:

UNCLASSIFIED

"Thank you for your desire to support the troops here in Iraq. I would be

glad to be your POC here. I am the Chaplain Assistant with the Army Reserve Brigade. Here is the address you can ship things to.

SGT C.

Thank you,"

SGT B.

Chaplain Assistant

"Dear Denise

I signed up to help last July in Orem and I have been getting stockings made since then and have currently 201 turned in and have 7 ladies more to collect from plus my LDS Ward is having a big project to make them and including the young women as well as young men. I am sending my news papers article that I wrote to the Editor of weekly newspaper. Kathy Barlow our Relief Society President has contacted you.I will be bringing the stockings to Payson High School of the 17 Oct 2009. Will be there at 10am and plan to stay and help.

Thank You for all you are doing."

Shirleen P Bess

Utah State Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Commander

Brigham City

From Claudia Keyworth Holistic Healing:

"We are donating videos (392) just donated by the Citizens Commision on Human Rights and that Get Ready to Heal " And will have a table at the packaging event for more information on healing from PTSD

10/08/09

"Oh my gosh I could just hug you through the computer...!!!!!! Can I copy and paste your letter below to send out to all my OMk parents that I have on e-mail? Could I set up an OMK Table there as well letting parents know about Operation Military Kids? I have some items I can hand out at my table for kids as well. Let me know if this is possible and what time set up is and what time this event runs until. Your awesome! Thanks Connie"

Connie Packer

4-H Program Coordinator

Operation Military Kids

"Hi,

I am interested in volunteering. I am in the Payson area. What do I need to do?"

Bradley Shepherd, DC
High Five Chiropractic

From: S.Chaplain
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 1:05 PM
Subject: RE: Utah USPS main office Ft. Douglas call on Letters to Soldiers to ship 400 flat rate boxes of CAche Valley Farmers' cheese to the 96th Brigade stationed in Iraq (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

"Very nice Denise!

I am happy for you and all the soldiers who lives you are touching."

Our number one volunteer Pam W. has done all this: She deserves medal of honor for Volunteers!! Come join us in giving her a special thank you October 17^th on big packaging day.

10/06/09 “artic circle 8017669636 promised 100 free ice cream certificates. hancock jeweler ken promised $50 gift card 192 east 12300 south in draper. sandy maceys talk to joley abt $25 giftcard. u need to fax fill out form and fax back. spencer at dans grocery call him at 8019437601 then he fax u a form and u will get $25 giftcard. curtis dial bajios pg promised to send whatever. 8017858180. manager at spanish fork bajio promised meal certificates. 8017980402. walden books doing a book drive starting now and we pick up dec 1st. 8018520015. maceys in pg said he would look and see what he could donate. contact is josh. 8017966601. miracle bowl promised to send some gift certificates 8012256038. and i already have some things and will bring them to u. i still working on some. i already have two day passes for seven peaks. 18 $5 village inn giftcards. 90 free appetizers from orem wingers. $50 giftcard to cheesecake factory. 1 family 2 hour pass from jump on it. 2 gift certificates from smiths. 1 for $10, and 1 for $15. 2 free pie certificates from west valley village inn. 4 meal and drink certificates from cafe rio. 1 free night stay at best western landmark inn in park city. 5 free movie passes from cinemark theater by orem mall and 4 $20 gift certificates to savers. i have 4 nice framed art pictures. a bucket of things i have collected from freecyclers. the 90 fourth of july cards are done and so are the 165 christmas cards. the stockings are cut and i am just sewing them this week and i will be done.”

Wow that is the most amazing feat done ever in Letters to Soldiers history congrats and thank you Pam. "I got a couple cases of Reesse's Peanut Butter Christmas Trees in the mail from a lady at Hershey's. If we ask her again for next year earlier, she will be able to send alot more to us. I also received some more stuff in the mail from In-And-Out burger. Meal certificates, and 2 T-shirts. I am still working on the 132 stockings. I have a young girl Laura Guyman who made us 11 stockings, and she is so cute. Her dad is military not sure if he is currently serving or not. I took a picture of her and the stockings hoping that you can include it on the website."

09/16/09 CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE FLYER TO POST PLEASE EVERYWHERE!!!

OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS 09 EVENT FOR EVERYONE TO GET INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING ARMY RESERVE BRIGADE IN IRAQ

and Battalion AFGHANISTAN FOR A TOTAL OF 444 SOLDIERS

SPONSORED BY LETTERS TO SOLDIERS AND PAYSON WALMART

HOSTED BY PAYSON CITY AND PAYSON HIGH SCHOOL

SATURDAY OCTOBER 17^TH, 2009

PAYSON HIGH SCHOOL GYM

1050 South Main St., Payson, Utah 84651

10 am to 5pm FREE ADMISSION AND SPECIAL GIVEAWAYS ALL DAY LONG!

LAnternlane will be singing her wonderful songs written by her for our soldiers like "My Prayers are With YOu Soldier" and her new release "Let Me In" just debued on 9/11/09 about soldiers coming back from Iraq with PTSD and their loved ones trying to reach them. All Military families will want to be there for that.

For more information contact www.letterstosoldiers.org at info@letterstosoldiers.org

Event will have Taylor Audio Dancin DJ Cory, all kinds of entertainment, card making and banner making for our soldiers, packaging of donated items by 10 companies, Christmas cards made by 20 school districts, and hand made stockings by volunteers. Food, fun activities, watching videos of past Utah Military units that received care packages and their letters of appreciation. Volunteers needed for planning, event day and filling out shipping forms. WalMart with their "Volunteerism Pays Back" program will be helping. Goal to raise remainder of $3,390 for shipping costs as well as more donated items, home made Christmas Stockings, special Christmas decorations, etc.

The Balloon Man

*we still need some of the following items: shoes, paperback books, games, toys, candy, small posters, women’s personal care products, Gold Bond and other foot products, card making supplies and stationary, sweat and T-shirts, pure white ankle socks, jerky, dried soups, dried fruit and other snacks, CDs, DVDs, Computer games, small Christmas Decorations, nonperishable smaller dry drink and food items not in glass or cans, vitamins (Thank you Nature's Sunshine for Chewables), soccer balls and school supplies to give to poor Iraqi and Afghani children*

10/05/09
"Hi Denise,
Its a great thing to see people like you doing projects like this, Thanks.

I am a local sign shop in Payson I will be out of town on the 17th but im willing to print any signs for the event or the soldier please let me know."

Bodi Hanks

Hanks Signs Inc.

bodi@hanks-signs.com

www.hanks-signs.com

"Hey Denise: .I wish I could come to help Oct. 17^th, but I will be in Idaho for the day. If you have another time…I’ll be there! Margo

Margo Watson

Keller Williams Real Estate Consultant

801-910-1691

09/26/09 From our hardest working volunteer Pam W. "
"by the time i am done making stockings i will have close to 132 for oct 17th. i need flyer info too for meeting with sunflower market on wednesday. 2 gymnastics tickets are waiting at huntsman center.as far as donors i have a lot coming and i am pushing for all gathered by oct 15th. we will see. i have right now $10 and $15 gift cards smiths, 5 movie tickets, 2 day passes to seven peaks, 4 CAFE RIO CERTIFICATES, and 90 wingers free appetizer cards. tons more to come bajio pg etc. as i get stuff i will let u know."

"Hi Dear Denise,

Sounds like a super great event again! I tell you this all the time, but your tenacity and ability and talents amaze me so much. You really make a difference.

On to this subject now:), what do you need help with for this event? I think I'm available on that day if you need more entertainment, as well as try and help with some of the other things you are doing on that day. let me know.

love ya!

That is really incredible that payson City Walmart is contributing.

Kudos to them, and to you.

Lanternlane"

From last year's schools participating:

"We plan on making cards. Where and who is picking them up?

Thanks,

Jan Tingey

Cache county school dist"

"Dear Denise,

     I would like to know when the letters to Soldiers need to be sent in to you? So I can get word

to the schools or if you have E-mailed the Wahsington Co. school district yet? If not please let

me know as soon as possible so that I can get things rolling..."

                                              Thank You Stevan Duke D.A.V. Commander

"I am Cam from Willowcreek we would be glad to do cards again and I can get people to come to the event in Payson to buy the donated things. Please let me know when the event in Payson is. Thanks Cam"

09/16/09 From our Army Reserve Brigade we will be shipping Christmas care packages to this year: "Denise,

Chaplain is still in Kuwait doing some training. He will arrive in Iraq to set up shop towards the end of the month. (for the brigade)

I believe I know the teacher that you got the donation from. He was on several workshops that I have been on and he went to the Galapagos with me. You'll have to say Hi for me.

H LTC

F

Thank you Pam in Orem for collecting so many wonderful things and making phone calls and stockings.

09/11/09Sheresse from Cache Valley, Utah donated $300: "Wow you are a teacher, how did you raise that amount? That is just amazing. Thank you so much for 30 soldiers from the Utah Army Reserve 96th brigade of soldiers to get their care packages this year. I am sure they will be so grateful that you made sure 30 soldiers would not go without special Christmas Care Packages This Holiday away from their families. I will ask them to send us pictures for you to see and show your students. I am also copying Lte. Col. Felsch to show him how many wonderful people here in Utah love and appreciate their great sacrifices."

Thank you Sandy, Thomas, Joe and all wonderful staff at BELLA's for the best place to eat the best MExican Food, best service with the most friendly people and best place to hold a party and concert. Thank you Lanternlane for a special night for our Troops on 9/11. Thank you Steel n Thunder for your great music and generosity. Come check out their website

Update 09/10/09 SEnator Bennett's office just pledged $750 donation to send 75 Utah Servicepeople care packages. Thank you so much.

Attorney General MArk Shurtleff's office donated $1,000 and we thank him also

What wonderful officials we have in Utah. Last year Governor Huntsman and his wife donated $1,000. Would anyone like to match their donations?

Thank you Pam Wiscombe, Ann Jensen, VFW Auxiliary commander Vona, Lanternlane, Taylor Audio, HArmon's Corporate office, Sunflower Markets, Tahitian Noni, PAYSON City and employees at Payson, WalMart planning a big event to package the care packages and raise enough for the shipping costs to sponsor the 96th Brigade in Iraq this Christmas, Nebo School District, and all the many other wonderful people that are helping make phone calls, collect items, collect cards, plan events and donating $10 to sponsor one serviceman or woman to receive a package. Watch for details about events like 9/11 Tribute Concert in Ogden, Utah.

Other charities accross America are doing the same thing and we salute them like Military MIssions in Lexington, KY that our "Pathfinder Soaring Eagles" in Afghanistan are from that we shipped packages to this year.

"Hi Denise,

I'm so sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I probably don't need to explain to you that I am burning the candle at both ends. I've been doing this for 5 years and it has been a long road. As you say, I always get requests but it is harder to get volunteers. A year ago I was ready to quit because I got tired of showing up and being on of 5 people. I honestly told the Lord that if He didn't make it obvious to me that I needed to keep doing this, I was closing the doors after Christmas. From that point forward, my volunteer base has grown slowly and now at any given time I can have 30+ volunteers.

I believe that word of mouth and the internet with groups like facebook and twitter have been a big help in getting the word out. Friends come and enjoy the experience. They start telling people and before you know it more are showing up. I do think it takes a lot of time and a lot of trust and faith in the Lord. Two years ago we sent out 175 boxes at Christmas. Last year it was 1250. This year I'm shooting for 2000, but we might surpass that....who knows! As of right now, I don't have donations or money but I'm going to keep working with what I've got and expect that God will provide. I know He will.

My main strategy is persistence. I'm a former elementary school teacher with NO business experience. I don't like to speak in public but do anyway. I also have to plan events, which I knew nothing about a year ago. Now I do it all the time. Frankly, I don't enjoy that aspect either, but it is worth the result.

I can't imagine doing this with a disability such as yours. I am actually somewhat disabled myself, but I'm past the worst years of surgeries and other issues. Back then I just did a little bit at a time and that was when we did the 175 boxes at Christmas. Do you have anyone that works with you such as a good friend that would come along beside you and help while you go through your recovery? I know that I couldn't do what I do without faithful volunteers. I have a very small crew of truly dedicated people that will help me several times a week. Without them, I couldn't do this. If I truly had to stop, I'd probably be in your situation as I don't know of anyone else that is willing to work 12 hour days, 7 days a week for no pay, especially when I usually put my own money into the project.

I know I didn't help you, but I will pray for you and I am thankful to know there are others out there supporting our troops. My son is a Marine who has been deployed three times. He's in the Wounded Warrior Battalion suffering from PTSD and TBI. I know a little bit about what you must have been through with your fiancee. "

Blessings,

B.

Military Missions, Inc.

www.militarymissionsonline.com

militarymissions@insightbb.com

Psalm 139: 7-10

Military Missions, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Charity

Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/militarymission and http://twitter.com/stepstohonor



08/02/09
"Hello,

Thanks for all your support and we appreciate all your services! The following items are needed if possible. Bath Towels (full body), Herbel Essences Hello Hydration shampoo and conditioner, Women's Mitchum gel deodorant Shower Fresh. Beef Maurchan Ramen Noodles, Mac and cheese, Benedryl, tylenol p.m extra strength, Palmer's Coca Butter, and whatever else you think that will be helpful to our Female troops. These are most of their requests. This is my direct email address and the mailing address will be listed below. Thanks!

N. S USA CIV USA WWLR"

07/10/09

"Well, we could use care packages, letters, etc.. Just looking for things to boost the morale of everyone. I myself am only a PFC. So I'm low on the totem pole. But, I do my best to make sure no one here is depressed etc.   I have my X-box 360 with a TV I got just for other people to play. Just to get their minds off everything. I am also the Computer guy. So I help everyone with pc problems etc.

There is 40 of us. 2 of them are females.

I do have a question. I was trying to look around for maybe a shoe company to sponsor us or something like that. Any idea on how ide go about this? Just about everyone here needs new running shoes. The stores here charge about $130 for a pair of $20 shoes. So not everyone can afford it. I thought it would be a neat thing if I could get a company to do that for us all. That would brighten every ones days."

"Dear Sir/Ma'am,

My name is PFC P.. I am currently in Afghanistan. The platoon I'm with, myself included have all been here for about three months. We are the 19th Engineers. We were brought here to help build part of Afghanistan up.

I was looking online and came across your site. Now I see that you all talk about soldiers in Iraq. I was just wondering if you did anything for soldiers in Afghan. To most of us, this will be our first deployment. I myself have only been in the ARMY for 9 months and here I am. No break to see the family at all.

So I thought it would be good for me to find a organization such as yourselves. Figured I'd give it a shot and see what happens.

"

Sincerely,

PFC P.

We put together 339 special Tahitian Noni binders, with Noni Chews, a special letter or card to our soldiers from Americans all over US, a big card they can write in to send home, and our card and promise that they will get 339 Christmas Care Packages while serving in Iraq for 10 months after training at Ft. H. These are dear friends of ours and we will make sure they get very special packages from Utah. It was great to say goodbye to them and meet their families. We also gave 120 binders to kids of the military with Operation Military Kids. the 339 Tahitian Noni Binders we gave the soldiers and their families had a card for a soldier by a child in America or a letter from an American, a blank hearts card to write home with, a Tahitian Noni chew for the road, and our card and promise of a care package this Christmas from Utah.

Here are some of the highlights of the Send Off:Father of new 5 day old baby, with three other children says goodbye and son and brother says good bye for next 12 months, and so many of our dear friends lined up to get on the bus headed for the plane to TX for 2 months of training and then 10 months in Iraq away from their families.

Families had signs of Love, "We will miss you," and stood as their loved ones got on the bus.

Families wave goodbye as the buses leave Ft. Douglas.

Soldiers see their family members for the last time for next 12 months through the bus windows, the father of the family with the 5 day old new baby looked so sad. This is why we do what we do to send them support and love from home and support their families while they are away sacrificing so much. CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICS

340 Troops Deployed to Iraq

Nineveh Dinha, Reporter and David Wells, Senior Web Producer FOX 13 News

11:26 PM MDT, July 8, 2009

Related links

340 Troops Deployed to Iraq Video

340 Soldiers Deployed to Iraq Video

Letters to Soldiers

SALT LAKE CITY - Hundreds of U.S. Army Reservists soldiers said good-bye to their families Wednesday as they left for a one year deployment to Iraq. The 340 troops will provide support services for U.S. soldiers helping the Iraqi army transition. The soldiers will train in Fort Hood, Texas and Kuwait before they go to Iraq.

Denise D. founded LettersToSoldiers.org, a volunteer organization that sends care packages and letters to support U.S. troops.

"We all love her and want her to know how much we appreciate her going overseas to support the country," said Darlene Nagao, a fellow troop supporter.

If you'd like to show your support, you can write a letter online at LettersToSoldiers.org.

We just shipped out 4th of July Care Packages to 6
units and this hospital today! But we are out of funds now and really need donations please!
WE raised $700 at CABELA's over three days of MIlitary Appreciation Days, only $24,300 to go!!Click picture to see all the pictures of Cabelas 3 days of Military Appreciation Days and Letters to Soldiers booth.

We were so proud of our wonderful One Voice Children's Choir with Masa conducting them singing "Tell me Why" for the children of Iraq that we wish to help. Come learn how you can help us send school supplies, shoes, coats, first aid and other supplies the poorest children in Iraq need. Come watch more of the 4th of July Letters to Soldiers MIni concert after the Tea Party here.

Hey my musician friends, do you know about the amazing Patriotic Concert and party 4th of July 10 am to 2pm with Jazz/Contemporary pianist/singer Shaun "Hammer hands" Barrowes from American Idle, Patriotic contemporary/Gospel singer Drew Reese, AMazing and Powerful Gospel/Patriotic singer Angela Winston with the One Voice Children's Choir at Lakeridge Jr. High Stadium by UVU in Orem, Utah.   All Free with lots of food vendors too and speakers and guests, giveaways, come really show your patriotism with music.

From an Assistant Chaplain of AZ unit of 250 that just got back from Iraq and need morale booster that Americans appreciate their service:

06/25/09

"If you could send us 300 letters, then that would be great! You have no idea, how much I appreciate your help and your spirit! The address is the same. I realize its kind of late, but hopefully they will get here before the 4th. And just whatever you can send, is very much appreciated...whether its cards or letters...I dont want to be a strain on you or an inconvenience...I believe that God has made you and your organization a blessing to myself, my Chaplain, and the soldiers. Keep up the good work and He will add more blessings to you and your organization. I can't say enough about how thankful I am of your support!

God Bless!

SPC S." "Wow...your dedication to these soldiers will not go unnoticed. I will pray over your organization and also let these soldiers know what a sacrifice you've made just to get the letters and cards to them. I honestly cant say this enough: THANK YOU!"

SPC S.06/23/09

"I would like to volunteer to make some of the stockings this year. I would need materials, but have my own sewing machine and several years of experience working with crafts. I may have some cotton christmas print that may be of use as well. I would like to work from my home if possible. I am in Orem."

Renay

06/22/09 We just got this very touching letter from an assistant chaplain of soldiers that just returned from Iraq in pain, and we are going to send them letters of appreciation by so many AMericans and children that love and appreciate them:
"Hello,

My name is SPC S. and I am stationed at Ft. H. AZ. I am currently with the 4.. Signal Battalion that has just recently come back from Iraq. My MOS is Chaplain Assistant, which means that not only is it my job to take care of my Chaplain, but also my fellow soldiers. Since 4..th has come back from Iraq, I've noticed the problems, mainly emotionally, that seems to plague the soldiers. The problems seem to be dealing with spouses, family members, and children, and in some cases even dealing with each other. So, I guess I'm writing you all because Independence Day is around the corner, and I was thinking what better time to show those soldiers some appreciation than on the 4th of July. So if you could help me out and also my Chaplain--he literally spends his entire workday counseling soldiers and spouses on everything from depression to suicide to infidelity...and believe it or not, that takes a toll on you after awhile. We would appreciate anything to show the soldiers that they are appreciated and that America does not forget the sacrifices they're making. If you would like to do anything then just reply back and I'll send you whatever information you need! Thank you so much for just reading this.." "

"That is exactly the situation of some of our soldiers, and it's a sad thing to see. Especially when you hear about what a happy couple those same two individuals were before they experienced deployment. There are a lot of factors that go into why divorces and break-ups happen, and we've been trying to get the information out to them so that they'll be aware and know what to look for. Its helped most of the soldiers, especially if they have the will to make it work.

Right now, I am working on getting you the total number of soldiers in 40th. As for the address, you can send them to mine, because I'm going to distribute them out to the different Commanders and 1st Sgts, including mine. Here's the address:

P

P.S. -- To give you a ball park figure of the number of soldiers, we're looking at close to 250 soldiers. I'll try and give you an exact number by tomorrow."

"If you could send us 300, then that would be great! You have no idea, how much I appreciate your help and your spirit! The address is the same. I realize its kind of late, but hopefully they will get here before the 4th. And just whatever you can send, is very much appreciated...whether its cards or letters...I dont want to be a strain on you or an inconvenience...I believe that God has made you and your organization a blessing to myself, my Chaplain, and the soldiers. Keep up the good work and He will add more blessings to you and your organization. I can't say enough about how thankful I am of your support!

God Bless!

SPC P."

"HI,
My daughter and I met you at the Women's Expo. My son in law is in Iraq. I have a question to ask you.

I have access to hundreds of DVD's called making a killing. It is all about the dangers of anti-depressants and what the drug companies are doing in order to make huge profits.

For example the last 12 school shootings were teens that were on anti-depressants. Please call if you are interested in receiving these award winning DVD's for our soldiers. I think they need to be educated to the dangers since they are handed out like candy in Iraq and Afghanistan. This award winning video is played daily in France to help educate the public. You see I used to work for drug companies and am so very aware of the dangers.

Please email me and let me know if you are interested. The non profit agency is willing to donate these to your organization and would even want to film my presentation to be able to put this in their new video.

Thanks for you time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Claudia K"

06/21/09 "I would like to setup an account on my internet banking to automate sending a monthly donation. This would be a check sent to your organization each month. Is there an address or PO box I can send it to? MIke"
06/19/09

This would fit perfectly into our Operation Ensuring Christmas Concert that we invite the families of those deployed to as our Free Honored Guests and we could take the pictures of the families all dressed up at the concert and set up back drop with you, and then send them to their members in their care packages with a copy of DVD of concert. That would make it so special. Thank you and I will keep your info and let you know once we start planning that. This will also be great advertising for your photography. Do you have a logo? I can put it on the site. Too.

"From: Kathryn Turley
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 12:29 PM
To: info@letterstosoldiers.org
Subject: Photographer



My name is Kathryn Turley. I live in Cottonwood Heights and I am a professional photographer. I would like to donate some time to taking portraits of families and kids of soldiers who are deployed but I have no idea where to start. Could you point me in the right direction?

http://sunlightphotography.blogspot.com/

Thank you.

Kathryn Turley"

06/18/09
Needed Volunteers to print, pack and deliver 4th of July Cards and donated items in care packages and take to Post Office by 5:30PM today 06/19/09 , & Volunteers on 4th of July 9am to 3pm for the Patriotic Party and Conc until Oct. 31st MAKE SOME OF 2,500 Christmas Stockings for Utah soldiers, marines, airmen in Iraq and Afghanistan for Christmas Packages. See their letters and pictures at http://www.letterst osoldiers. org/operationens uringchristmas08 .htm

Did everyone see the ABC4 story last night on our Operation Ensuring Christmas 09 delivery of 9,000 Beautiful Zipping Binders donated by Tahitian Noni, delivered for holding at Pride Transport in SLC with owner Jeff England, son and grandson of England Trucking Founders here in Utah and a Big Thank You goes out to Mike KElleher for setting this up with Roger of Tahitian Noni, and waiting on Integrated Charter Services to fly them to Iraq for our Soldiers to distribute them to Iraqi children for school along with 20,000 Tahitian Noni Chews inside them with letters from American Kids writing to them?

Donations for our troops

Last Update: 6/18 3:45 pm

Print Story | Share this Story

Troops return home for Christmas (ABC 4 News)

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Some Utah companies are ensuring our troops have an unforgettable Christmas this year.

As part of Operation Ensuring Christmas, Tahitian Noni donated eight thousand brand new school binders for US soldiers to give to Iraqi children.

They also hope to gather 10,000 Christmas cards from Utah schools as well as 2,500 handmade stockings, food and personal care items, and more. They have calling cards, Tahitian Noni chews, and Christmas candies.

To find out how to donate visit http://letterstosoldiers.org/donate.html.

Copyright 2009 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

06/16/09 One of our 3 year Corporate Sponsors Tahitian Noni has donated 9,000 Beautiful Binders that we are looking for a warehouse in Utah to store till we package everything in October and will send some with the 4th of JUly packages we are shipping out this week with 4th of July cards and donated goodies. We hope the troops will be able to use them to keep their cards and letters or give them to Iraqi kids for school. Thank you Deseret News and Salt LAke Tribune for also coming to do the story.
From our Friend Rebecca Cressman, our number one friend in radio:
"Denise- That is fantastic. I'm so proud of what you do. Congrats-Rebecca FM100.3 "

From one of the wives ofNational Guard we sent cards to in 08:

"Hello Denise,

Thank you for posting the link of ( http://www.soldierspromise.com) about help for PTSD on your website, I am hoping our troops will take advantage of this wonderful program. My husbands unit is actually gearing up for another deployment, this one to Afghanistan. We don't know exactly when this will take place, but no later than next May. I will keep you posted of any deployments I hear of. I love your program and the positive effect it has on our troops, keep up the good work! If you have extra binders I would love to put them to good use, let me know how to get in touch with you. Thank you for your support and your continued dedication to our service members.

Take Care,

K."

06/08/09From one of our special wives we honored at the Last Welcome Home Troops Celebration that we love so much:

"Denise, My husband is leaving with the ARmy Reserve this summer. We would like to collect letters from my children’s school this year and help with some stockings. I will see if we can get our ward to help out, too, so I let you know about how many stockings we could do and what else we could do. What do you need help with? Maybe our FRG can help, too.

Thanks,"P.

060809: "Wow I have my own amazing news that I am so excited and humbled by: "After being the Keynote Speaker at the Disabled Veterans Conference, and meeting the dearest vets including one Air Force Injured Vet that offered to help me with anything I needed to support our deployed troops, and then being invited to the Airshow at Hill Air Force Base to have my booth for Letters, and meeting so many wonderful military families. 500,000 people attended the show. I met a dear widow of a pilot that offered also to help me, and a Major of 24 yrs retiring that offered to help and so many other dear people. One young man came up to me and he had an accent. I asked him where he was from and he said “Iraq” “ I was a translator, " he said. Wow, I have only heard from many of our guys how these young men that speak English are so helpful to our US military and how they risk their lives and their families to help them. He told me the US gov't had brought him over here after his life was almost taken 3 times and he and his friend who also translated and were Chemical Engineers but stopped their education so they could help the coalition forces, are now in the US and helping other refugees. He has been living in SLC in an apartment with two Americans but he doesn’t like how they smoke and have girls over all the time they find on the street, because he promised his mom that he would not drink, not smoke or be wild in the US. Hey maybe he will come to church with me. Hussein keeps telling me he will do anything to help the Coalition Soldiers and I know he loves them dearly. He told me how much he cried when one of the soldier friends in Iraq was blown up next to him and how he cried for his family back in America that had lost their father. He too lost his father who served in the Iraqi Army when Iraq was fighting Iran. His mother and 20 yr old brother are still in Iraq and he is working with Immigration to bring them over here too. So anyway my friend Rebecca on FM100 had scheduled me to be interviewed on her radio show tomorrow am and I am going to surprise her with this special guest that loves our US soldiers even more than I do. He wants to help me as much as possible with Letters to Soldiers and then attend one of the Universities to get his Masters in Chemical Engineering. His English is really good. He is going to show me many pictures of his Army friends in Iraq that helped the Iraqi people and children. He says the Press doesn’t tell the good stories and he feels that God/Allah has sent him here to tell the wonderful things the US military do in Iraq. I felt like the Lord has blessed me to meet someone like this and I too have to help him tell the stories of the good the soldiers are doing over there."

05/26/09 This Memorial Day I was honored and blessed to meet and sit with two amazing ARMY Veterans. One is an amazing hero that was blinded and lost 50% of her brain function in the Gulf War after serving as a pilot for 21 yrs in the Active Duty ARmy. She had gotten her PHD in Psychology at the age of 20, 2 Bachelors degrees, and then joined the ARMY. After her permanently disabling injury, she had to relearn to talk, go to the bathroom and all the things we take for granted and learned as children. She is a remarkable hero and example to us all. She is a member of the LDS church and as she named her Guide Dog Faith, she has such incredible faith. HOw honored I am to serve great heroes like her and other wounded warriors here in UTah. The other Veteran of the Gulf War and two tours in Iraq with the NG that we shipped 310 very special from Utah Care Packages to in Afghanistan last year SSG D., was there with his Hero BAnds made from parachute chord that he gives part of proceeds to Sub for a Hero program he started to support military families. SSG D. told me that he sometimes spent up to 73 days with no contact with anyone else, and when he and 7 of his guys got together to open those packages, and watched the Operation Ensuring Christmas Concert together on one laptop, and saw all the Utah people that love them and Jill S., Fellow UTNG and Miss Utah, it really made their time there easier knowing that so many people from home loved them and went out of their way to make all those special homemade chocolates, stockings, cards and DVD and CDS of music just for them. We hope to continue to send these special packages to all our Utah military serving overseas, and supporting their families with all we can back home. Come join us in this rewarding effort .

05/16/09 From our Aeromedical Hospital we have been shipping to for past year that received letters and Brownie Troop BAnner: "Here are pictures from EMDG. We put the letters from the children on top of the beds for the soldiers to read.
Also is a picture in front of a poster you’ve sent us."

"I have pictures for you that I will send later through an email attachment.

We also received letters from Orem High school students. We would like to write some of these students back, what class are they from? Or what address is available for me to send them letters?"

Alyssa A.

Update 04/25/09: We are gathering items and cards for the 4th of July to ship mid June to our 6 units that we have committed to support this year in Iraq and Afghanistan. We just received one huge long banner and some 4th of JUly cards from a Girl Scout Troop that the Hospital in Kuwait will love, and
would love to send two more to the Medical Unit , and the Delta Company too if you have a troop that would like to make one.

Article written this year in the Utah Valley Magazine by Jeannette: "...Efforts snowballed, and last Christmas ..the shipment of 1,566 care packages to service members in AFghanistan, Kuwait and Irag... a goal to raise $25,000 to send out 2,500 care packages for Christmas 2009."

Update 05/06/09 Just got a call from a very dear friend that the ARmy Reserve from Fort Douglas will be going to Iraq this Fall for 12 months. They helped with Welcome Home Troops and other events more than any Utah Military unit and we will definitely be sending them 100s of packages this Christmas and letters from home throughout their deployment. We sure appreciate the soldiers . So we need to raise $2,500 just for their shipping costs. Lte. Col. F. and Major General Peter Cook. My assigned great helper, (we gave them certificate for dinner with his wife at the Dodo in SLC!My great helpers from the 96th grilled hamburgers all day at the Welcome HOme Troops Celebration with free food, drinks, Scoopology Ice Cream and Free Cricket Comms. Calling to Iraq and Afghanistan, and Video Emailing.

and Lte. Col H.and Maria our most amazing family helped us get online with Cricket Video Emailing at the ARmy Reserve's 100th Bday FAmily DAy at Ft. Douglas.

04/24/09 From our Medical Unit we are supporting for the year:

"I am with the CSH out here in Camp Iraq. We're the unit you all so graciously gave Christmas to this year! I'm so sorry for not getting pictures out to you sooner! I had every intent of doing it and I guess as things got busier and busier out here I convinced myself that I had already done it! I made a slide show on a CD and it is in the mail. I sent it out on Thursday, so hopefully it will get to you before too long.

Thank you for your support! We all appreciate it more than I can ever tell you!! Please let me know if there's ever anything we can do for you.

Best wishes,"

SGT C.

, Iraq

04/01/09 ' DELTA COMPANY"
Sir/Ma’am.

"I have a number of Soldiers in our section, in addition to a number of Soldiers
who come in from the field to see us each day. I thought it would good for morale
and such for them to get some of the simple things they can’t get in Iraq.
I believe that they would really appreciate some personal letters, kids'
drawings and such, especially around the holidays. If nothing else, I would
like to post them on our wall so our Soldiers can see them as they enter the building.

Hope it is not too much to ask. Thank you."

v/r

CPT D.

03/12/09 From our Artists: "Hey Denise: Sorry this email was delayed. I was singing with the Cleveland Pops Symphony and then went to Beijing and Korea for a week. Back catching up. How can I help? Excited you are planning ahead sooner. Getting sponsors is a great way to begin…like a media sponsor ahead of time who will promote this further ahead…’When Were you planning to have the concert? Maybe promote three concerts at the same time…one in utah county at an rotc or other soldier recruitment office, second in salt lake, then third in ogden…set concert program and don’t change..get program to media early for sponsors so can promote them too. "

Margo Watson

"Hey Denise how are you these days? Hope all is well with you. Hey, would you by any chance have Jill Steven's (Ms. Utah), email and #? Would you please, please send it to me. I would be so grateful. Having a summer camp and would like for her to come and speak to the kids. Thank You So Much.

Love You,"

angela winston

We would like to send many LDS military in Iraq and Afghanistan copies of "Faith in the Service" by Hawkins if anyone can get copies of them for us.

02/20/09 From one of our wives of unit in Afghanistan:

"Hey Denise!

Yes they have been very busy..the base Sgt. Major came into their home base and wanted them on back to back missions…he has been out for nearly 2weeks now…and I haven’t hardly heard from him..I think he may be back to home base tomorrow..so hopefully he will check his e-mail…Awww..that’s so sweet, valentines cards…thank you so much for everything!"

M.

Here are our latest requests we are working on and need your help with: Click picture of cards we are sending to Hospital for our Wounded Warriors in Kuwait to see what we are receiving and sending:

01/21/09 From our Aeromedical Hospital ER:

"Dear Ms. D.

My name A1C A.. I am A1C L. replacement here at EMDG/CASF. We received a box full of candy, books, and letters from the children. We wanted to thank you for your donations and letters. The soldiers here greatly appreciate everything you do. A1C L.is currently not here, he left roughly a week ago. If possible I would like to be the next point of contact for the program. I’d like to know anything and everything that you do for us.

Thank You"

Al.

Click here to watch video of pics of cards, food and supplies we received from Michigan that we mailed to the hospital.
Another request in:

02/04/09
"Hi Denise,

First of all, Thank You so much for all the packages. They were waiting for us when we returned from our mission.

Anyway, all the guys love the packages and they loved reading the emails from everyone. I really enjoy the notes from the kids. I'll have to listen to the music from your Christmas show. Hey, see if you can find me some of the Moleni Brothers music. I found them a while ago online somewhere and really liked the sound of their music. I haven't been able to find their music anywhere. I would have loved to see them sing in person."

SSG. M.

01/28/09 "Hi Denise,

Thanks again for taking the time to chat with me. What an incredible project this is!

Please send those pictures to this email address. Feel free to call me with any other questions.

And I will be in touch about what we can do to contribute this Christmas.

Best, "

Natalie Hollingshead
Utah Valley Magazine

01/27/09
We just sent 11 packages to SSG Michael G.'s men and he wrote back:
"Thanks ...You're the best. I will make sure and take some pictures and send them to you."

SSG M.01/26/09
"Hi Denise,

I'm an E6 medical officer for a Military Transition team up in Mosul. We are an 11 man team that works directly everyday with the Iraqi National Police. We advise and train them in every aspect of military training. I handle all the medical training of course along with taking care of all the medical needs of my team. We have been over here for about 4 months now, along with a 3 month trainup in KS. So, the team has been together for just over 7 months now and we all get along pretty good, for the most part. I am the only LDS person on the team and they all know it.

We would love to get some packages and letters from you. Our mailing address is as follows:"

SSG M.

01/21/09 From our Aeromedical Hospital ER:

"Dear Ms. DeV.

My name A1C A.. I am L's replacement here at EMDG/CASF. We received a box full of candy, books, and letters from the children. We wanted to thank you for your donations and letters. The soldiers here greatly appreciate everything you do. A1C Latimer is currently not here, he left roughly a week ago. If possible I would like to be the next point of contact for the program. I’d like to know anything and everything that you do for us.

Thank You"

"We have a new team of approximately, 40 new airman to this rotation. We still have plenty snacks from the last package. "

Thanks A.

"Dear Denise, I came across your website and I want to first off say thank you so much for everything you do for our soldiers and our families! God bless you and everyone at letters to soldiers.

I would like to ask that I could give you my husband’s address…they just got to Afghanistan...unit with only 21 men in the platoon.. the rest of the 60 guys from the company are split up and attached to other battalions in different locations around Afghanistan.

I think the boys would really appreciate letters or anything else very much…a lot of these men have no families, or are single.. and for a lot of them this is their 1^st deployment. There are a couple of really young ones who are 18…we want to keep the morale up there..

Thank you so much in advance for anything you can do!

Again God Bless You and our Troops!

SSG. E.., Operation Enduring Freedom Respectfully,"

" 01/12/09 thank you and yes that is the right address ssgt o."

"I sure will..and I have already listened to the music and it made me cry..I thank god everyday that we have people like you who make such a difference in our lives..The men of pathfinder company will be very happy..If I may can I have my husband send me pictures to e-mail to you? Maybe you could post them on your site…I will let everyone know about this site, I have many friends with husbands deployed in different units!

Thank you again,"

M.

M. proud wife of SSG. O (U.S. Army)

01/16/09 "Denise, I am glad that Helloworld has had a chance to check your account. I hope you find this satisfactory so we can keep contacting the soldiers and continue doing the great things that you have for our friends and family abroad.

Sincerely,"

Charmaine

01/14/09 From our Media specialist Jesi who is helping us get word out to media for support: "Sounds like we can make this project go! As soon as I get my storyboard the way I want it, I'll send you a copy. I'm trying to capture the feelings of the soldiers with photos, video's would be great to add into it.!!"
Jesi

"Let me get to studying and researching a succesful campaign. First thing is to get the Troops back into the public eye, since they've more or less been shelved. I'll call one of my friends at the News Press here and see what we can brainstorm, I also have video making capability which could air as psa's."

Jesi

"Hi Denise, glad to hear from you!

I've put together alot of presentations and press releases in my career, so what your proposing won't be difficult at all."

Jessie

BACK

"The Army is here to pick up donated items"	"The Army Strong are here"
The Army truck getting filled, will there be enough room?	Is the ARmy being shown up by WalMart Women Melissa and Michelle? These women have some muscle.
The ARmy is startin to sweat, not the ladies.	The Army and WalMart strong did the job!
the ARmy Truck needs to gas up on way to NEWAYS pick up	The Army is in Cowboy Country now!
Where can Save A Dog & Kids "Letters to Soldiers" get one of these trucks?	Bad truck but I want to drive an MRAP some day!
Sgt. D. and Spec. W. unload with more Payson WalMart Employees at the Payson HIgh School	The Army boys are startin to get tired
Our bad truck, Not!, and a pallet of Tahitian Noni Chews, They delivered 3 pallets wow.	the Payson WalMart crew and Army crew
The Army Crew is happy to be done! They got their workout while the rest of the unit hiked the G	Thanks Army Reserve for the great truck, how can we hire you full time?

Packaging day started out early with everyone lining up to make packages before we even got set up.	Kathy . came from Nephi to volunteer, her husband was in the Army
Commander Edwards of the Timpanogos VFW post always has a big smile on his face	Payson VFW Commander Bill Brooks commanded a spectacular Flag Ceremony with AF VFW Commander Edwards and The Civil Air Patrol Cadets.
Bev Jameson, who contacted us when she heard this project was coming to Payson, ran the Letters to Soldiers Card making table, banner making and sang with Talent Qwest singers.	As packages were filled and taking up the Gym floor, Coralee gave us the great idea of making a Christmas Tree.
Silent Auction table was a popular place	WalMart Employees bid on the auction items also. We are excited to find out how many hours the employees worked to raise the remainder of shipping costs.
The Deseret News and Daily Herald talked about our project.	My longtime volunteers are always there: Kathy and Rebecca .
Our soldiers built the Christmas tree of boxes at the end of the day. Thank you Army Reserve
The Balloon man will make something out of balloons for children as long as you need him to because he does it for the kids	Sgt. D.
H. and S. of the and WalMart Employees helped write alot of the 500 customs forms for the care packages. There is so much to write with all the items listed that are in the box.	Husbands and wives of the ARmy Reserve worked to make sure the soldiers in Afghanistan get their packages
The Balloon man put smiles on so many kids faces	Talent Qwest singers gave us many moving and patriotic moments with their powerful songs. What amazing talent
the whole family got into the packaging	Finishing the tree