The 71-year-old Santaquin woman is doing it again this year, this time with handkerchiefs — 1,600 of them.

But it may be for nothing. Letters to Soldiers, the nonprofit group that put the packages together the past three years, hasn't been able to raise the money for shipping. Founder Denise De Vynck said she has raised just $1,000 for shipping — roughly $15,000 short. Each package costs $10 to ship.

Still, Jensen continues to move forward, hoping for a miracle.

A volunteer for the grass-roots organization bent on remembering the troops during the holidays, Jensen last year recruited some 20 other women who like to sew. That number soon grew to about 50, all in south Utah County.

It all started for Jensen two years ago when she met De Vynck at a military display at Cabella's, an outdoor store in Lehi. Jensen volunteered to take fliers for De Vynck to area fabric stores to recruit volunteers to make the stockings.

"I was absolutely flooded with the response," Jensen said.

Women and youths in south county wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took the on challenge as a service project, dubbing it Operation Ensuring Christmas. Together, with a group of volunteer seamstresses in Brigham City, they came up with enough Christmas stockings for the Utah soldiers on their list, De Vynck said.

Meanwhile, the Brigham City group also kept going after the project was completed, making enough stockings to fill the needs for this year's Christmas. So the Utah County group switched to making hankies.

"These guys are in the dirt so they don't need white handkerchiefs," Jensen said.

The handkerchiefs Jensen is making use dark-colored cotton cloth, measuring 22 inches square.

Other volunteers will provide popcorn balls for the troops, to be made fresh in October, and the Brigham City volunteers plan to provide brownies for the soldiers, De Vynck said.

Last year, the army of volunteers gathered at Payson High School to put the packages together. This year, the location for the assembly has yet to be announced.

Other gifts include CDs, magazines, cards from schoolchildren, dried fruit and beef jerky — all donated from Utah residents and businesses.

Each package also will include a video of the volunteers putting it all together. Any gift packages left over will go to airmen at Hill Air Force Base, De Vynck said.

Walmart employees in Payson pitched in last year, contributing 185 hours, which the store matched with a $3,000 grant under its employee volunteer program, she said.

De Vynck has been hoping since January for a donation from Walmart similar to last year that would help pay for the shipping, but it apparently won't be forthcoming.

Volunteers are scrambling to fill the gap and raise $15,000 by November when the packages need to go out, De Vynck said.

For more information, visit www.letterstosoldiers.org or call De Dvynck at 801-808-4424"    e-mail: rodger@desnews.com

The gifts will go to the 405th of Pleasant Grove and 96th Brigade from Fort Douglas, said organizer Denise Devynck.

The third annual Operation Ensuring Christmas packing party runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Payson High School gymnasium, 1050 S. Main. Volunteers will be boxing donated items from local merchants, along with cards and big banners to write to the troops. Volunteers also will make Christmas wish videos that day to send to the troops.

"So many people will be personally making items that day," said Devynck, director of letterstosoldiers.org.

The excess donated items will be sent to Hill Air Force Base and Operation Military Kids through the Utah National Guard and the 4-H program operated through Utah State University, she said.

Expected to highlight the party are high school cheerleaders, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Civil Air Patrol cadets, Disabled American Veterans and Utah-based singer songwriters with their songs for soldiers. The party is also expected to have drawings for prizes.

"For many soldiers this is the only care package they get," Devynck said."

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com