HAPPY VALENTINES LETTERS TO SOLDIERS WAY

VALENTINE'S DAY PACKAGES HAVE BEEN MAILED AND HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE thanks to KLymit and ICEtrekkers, Mary KAy gift bags for two lady soldiers and 6 team leaders thanks to Carol Walden, letters for 150 soldiers from West Jordan school, Valentine's candies, cards, treats we bought, and more. Thank you new companies sending donations including The North Face!!

SPONSOR ONE SOLDIER FOR ONLY $10 TO GET A CARE PACKAGE THIS YEAR LIKE THIS PLEASE! Or Just volunteer to help make them special this year.

Schools don’t forget the 4^th Annual 4^th of July Cards/Banners Competition for a chance to have an Assembly with Soldiers at your School! Please contact us to get your cards mailed in by June 25^th. or here are examples of great things companies have come up with on their own:

"Letters to Soldiers, My name is Ann and I work for Sportsman's Warehouse. We have some DVDs people have bought to donate to the Troops. Most of the customers have also attached messages to the DVDs as well. I would love to drop these off.... Thanks so much!" (We also received some with chocolate covered raisins from Provo, UT Sportman's Warehouse we included in care packages)

"We've got more comic books than you asked for, and they are ready for pick up.

Two locations: Dr Voltz Comics 2043 East 3300 South.

Black Cat Comics 2261 Highland Drive. (across parking lot from Cinemark Theatres)

The geekshowpodcast.com listeners were more than happy to help.

Wish the soldiers happy holidays from us all.

Oxoxox Kerry Jackson"X96

Operation Ensuring Christmas V

THank you KUTV2 for featuring Letters to Soldiers this Christmas on your "Pay it Forward" watch it at: Dec. 28, 2011 http://connect2utah.com/news/pay-it-forward

Thank you KSL family and The Utah Commission on Volunteers Shar and Susan

"I am a producer with KSL’s Studio 5, a morning lifestyle show that airs daily on channel 5. Watch the show that highlighted Letters to Soldiers at :

http://studio5.ksl.com/index.php?nid=71&sid=18505520 ( Come watch Utah Governor's Office on Volunteers featured Letters to Soldiers and our pictures from Operation Ensuring Christmas V in Cedar City for 500 Utah soldiers serving in Iraq in October and special party for their families)

Holiday Volunteer Opportunities

December 15th, 2011 @ 7:30am

We know many families make volunteering a holiday tradition. Here are five unique, ways your family can help out this holiday season.

Write a letter to our Soldiers
Letters to Soldiers
Send letters and packages to currently deployed service members and veterans! Learn more about this opportunity by visiting
www.letterstosoldiers.org.
Denise Devynck, Director Letters to Soldiers, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 801-808-4424

Executive Director of the Utah Commission on Volunteers, is appearing on our show next week to discuss holiday volunteer opportunities.

She plans to highlight the Letters to Soldiers campaign on our show. I see that you have pictures of soldiers and letters on your website. Would it be possible to have you send me several (8-10) pictures in jpg form to use during the live discussion?

Let me know,

Thanks,"

Jane Thomas

Studio 5 Producer

Please click on the following links to see some recent news articles (for your convenience articles will open in a new tab/window.

In Iron County Today: Community rallies, provides support for military families

In The Spectrum: Christmas on its way to soldiers

Another artical in Iron County Today: Community to rally for soldiers, families

CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Christmas came early Thursday for hundreds of soldiers and their families in Southern Utah.

Members of the Utah National Guard's 222nd And 213th are home from Iraq six months ahead of schedule.

The 475 soldiers of the 222nd -- or Triple Deuce -- and 213th left in June and were supposed to be in Baghdad for an entire year. But in late October President Obama ordered all troops out of Iraq by year's end.

They'd been gone just 6 months, but it already felt too long.

"Every day lasted 10 to 12 hours. Every day is different...it seems like every day you were fighting a different battle," said Capt. Marc Henrie, 222nd Field Artillery.

Captain Marc Henrie's two children don't need much more for Christmas because the main present walked off a plane Thursday.

"I think we've got our Christmas right here," said Hollie Henrie, wife of soldier.

The early homecoming was a surprise for sure, but Captain Henrie, on his second deployment, said Baghdad is doing better.
"We...fell like we were a lot safer this time around than our first time. Things have really developed a lot in Iraq," said Capt. Marc Henrie, 222nd Field Artillery.

This is the third deployment to Iraq since 2001 for the soldiers of the Triple Deuce. They supported "Operation New Dawn" by performing security operations in and around Baghdad.

The early arrival came just in time for 2nd Lt. Josh Winder. For the first time Thursday he met his brand new baby girl.

"I can't explain it, it's just too good," said 2nd Lt. Josh Winder, 213th Forward Support Unit.

Amelia Michelle Winder was born just seven weeks ago. Her middle name, Michelle, has special meaning to Lt. Winder.

"I lost a brother in '07 over in Iraq and my sister-in-law's name is Michelle," said Winder.

"He gets wrapped up in his girls. His girls love him a lot," said Jeneca Winder, Wife and new mom.

For mom and older sister, the holiday season will now be complete.

"Relief and excitement...and a sense of wholeness that our family is all together," said Jeneca Winder.

(Copyright 2011 - Four Points Media)

December 8, 2011 222/213 half of soldiers are home!!! Other half coming home by end of December. We have 30 beautiful Christmas banners from Kennedy JHS for them. Anyone going down to Cedar?

"I am a morning anchor from ABC in Dallas- I would like to include your program and website in a segment tomorrow for my show. Can someone please contact me here?" Amy

CEDAR CITY, UT PACKAGING/CONCERT/FAMILY DAY OCT. 8, 2011

Thank you Sally and hubby, Todd Hoggard and Lin's Jan and Kaitlin for riasing the $6,000 for the postage for the 222/213th's care packages, and picking up 1,000 school binders for their kids, and all the 500 each of all Letters to Soldiers collected for the care packages and driving it dwn in this great Patriotic Truck. How beautiful to see this:

As Grandpa of a soldier gave the opening prayer and a sister and her friends sung the National Anthem, all of us shared this special moment with awe of all those 150 flags around the park.

Roger and the Muddy Boots Band were perfect and Roger heard THank Yous on his FB from Iraq soldiers thanking him.

All volunteered in town that morning to make this the most patriotic scene.

Mae of Weddings Decor and her husband set up two heaters at 6am and this beautiful 20 x 30 tent that housed our packaging items

Everyone packaged the NEWAYS sunscreen, NAture's Sunshine Silver Shields, Tahitian Noni Lotion and Aftershave and Young Living Red Juice into 500 Gallon sized Zip Lock Baggies ready to put in bottom of boxes all set up for the families and volunteers to make the care packages. Everyone got into the effort.

Sally from AFStores Corp office and her dear husband froze with we feet since 6am and worked so hard to make sure all was done.

One of soldiers' girlfriends and her friends sang the anthem after driving down from Parowan.

Donna from the Happy Factory brought 400 hand made cards for the kids of the soldiers, and the FRGs were giving 1000 Tahitian Noni School Binders, 500 Build A Bear coloring Books, and 100 toys from The Corner STation of Fairview brought by Katie who manned the food tables all day of food from Cravings, Rusty's Ranchhouse, Costa Vida, Dominoes, The Pastry Pub, Chili's, Little Ceasars, Pizza Hut, Freestyle Pizza, 5 Buck Pizza, Cotton Candy from FunTimeInflatables, and LIN's kids games.

from The Specturm Newspaper: http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20111009/NEWS01/110090324/Christmas-its-way-Southern-Utah-soldiers

Thank you Donna for jumping in and

managing filling the beautiful handmade stockings with 500 Payson Fruit Growers Dried Cherries with special label: , Phillips 500 bags of Handcrafted Chocolates, 500 Cell Phones for Soldiers 100 minute calling cards, 500 large homemade Santaquin ladies' Rice Krispie Treats, Brownies and other great treats, Colonial Flags, and hand warmers donated by Wilma in St. George along with her beautiful hand made stockings.

Christmas on its way to Southern Utah soldiers

"

CEDAR CITY - The rain and cold Saturday did not dampen the spirits of more than 150 volunteers who gathered at Main Street Park to prepare 500 Christmas packages for members of the Utah National Guard 222nd Field Artillery Unit and the 213th Forward Support Company stationed in Iraq.

Volunteers from Southern Utah University, and even outside the state, huddled under canopies filling plastic bags with items such as shampoo, candy, dried fruit and health drinks like Tahitian Noni. Santa Claus was on hand to help soldiers' families wish their loved ones overseas a Merry Christmas, and notes were also written to be stuffed in the soldiers' packages that included handmade Christmas stockings.

Michelle Challman, who drove from Antelope Valley, Calif., was busy filling bags with hygiene items. She traveled the lengthy distance to participate in the 5th Annual Operation Ensuring Christmas Packaging Day because her 19-year-old nephew, Anthony Ibarra, is deployed with the 222nd, she said. Her sister-in-law, Alicia Ibarra, Anthony's mother, and her in-laws told her about the event and she wanted to join the effort.

Alicia Ibarra said she lives in Parowan and meets with other families of deployed soldiers monthly. Many women are having a difficult time caring for their children alone without their husbands at home, she said. She expressed her strong desire for her son, along with all the other men and women serving with him, to come home safely "and soon."

Amanda Lanier was at the park lending a helping hand and said she appreciated everyone's help with supporting the troops, especially considering that her husband, Jared Lanier, is serving with the 213th.

"It's nice that everyone came out to do something for the soldiers," she said.

Disabled veteran Kenneth Duke drove from Mesquite to participate in the packaging festivities. He served with the Air Force in Vietnam in 1967-1968, and said he suffers from exposure during his service to the toxin Agent Orange. His involvement in the Christmas effort for the soldiers in the Middle East was his way of "giving back," he said. He remembered receiving care packages when he was deployed to a foreign country, although those efforts were not as big as Saturday's event, he added.

Cedar City Mayor Joe Burgess spoke briefly during a patriotic ceremony in the afternoon. He said "Our troops that have been deployed have had tens of thousands of prayers offered on their behalf."

Offering her own prayers with service and founding of the nonprofit Letters to Soldiers, Denise Devynck, who organized the packaging effort, thanked the volunteers and numerous donors for their generosity and patriotism that made the event possible.

"You are true Americans," she said.

She also recognized Associated Foods Lin's Supermarket in Cedar City for raising $3,500 to pay for the postage needed to send all 500 packages through the efforts of Sally Schmitz, who works with corporate human resources. Lin's employees Jan McIntyre and Kaitlin Sorensen were also given accolades for their assistance." Oct. 9, 20111 Cathy wentz The Spectrum St. George

OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS V PACKAGING DAY

From some of our participants:

From Muddy Boots Band Roger:

" You are such an amazing person. ...Glad We met and thanks for all you do. I already have Facebook Messages from Iraq thanking us...."

"Thank you for all that you do.

"Hi Denise!!

I hope you have had time to recover from a fabulous weekend in Cedar!! You did a marvelous job and although at times things seemed out of control.... it all came together and soon there will be 500 excited soldiers opening boxes from home!!

I have a cooler full of lotion and a cooler full of cleaning wipes I need to get back to you, as well as your chairs. We just need to find a time to meet up.
Let me know what your schedule is and I will get these left over items to you!!!
Thanks for the opportunity to help serve Letters to Soldiers and the families of triple deuce and 213! It was an honor!"

Janet H.

364th Civil Affairs Brigade

Family Programs Steering Committee

405th Civil Affairs Battalion

Family Readiness Group Leader

--

Thank You,"

Ben Thrift

Craving's

General Manager

"
Dear Denise -

I am in total "shock & awe" over what I have seen over the past few weeks! The packaging party was amazing and I am so sorry for what you had to go through to make it happen - including having to deal with the moved up timing, the weather, volunteer shortage and more.

I hope you will be able to recover soon. I can tell you give your all to this cause and it is very much appreciated.

I was so glad to come and see everything come together.

I would like to help as much as I can. It helps that I now have a better idea of what is entailed in the whole process of what you do and have seen it first hand.

I will work to make the Facebook page better and to get more people on it. If you would like I could work on the website too, if it is a program or process I know how to work.

If you have any time in the near future, would it be possible to meet with you in Orem so I could map out some of the needs you have for

your web presence and get a feel for what is on the horizon? Also,

with more time I think I can get some products for future efforts from some of my wholesale suppliers.

Again, I know you are probably still knee deep in packages but I hope you'll be able to rest and recuperate soon.

Thanks again,"

Katie Shell

The Corner Station

"Hello Denise,

I heard the event on Saturday was a great success! We were wondering who you contacted to get in touch with the families of the soldiers. We want to be able to help them with yard or home clean-up and do a little kids carnival on the 22nd but were only able to talk to a couple of interested people. If we could get the contact person for the soldiers' families that you worked with, that would be fantastic!

Thanks,"

Amy B.

Alex Cabrero Ksl commented: ( how wonderful Alex that you remembered our first year planning the first big Operation Ensuring Christmas Concert downtown SLC with Diamond Rio, SGT Drew "Reese" Howells, Angela Winston, Miss UTAH GI Jill Stevens, The Moleni Brothers and so many others that brought the families of deployed soldiers and honored guests to tears and helped us send 1,543 care packages to deployed Utah military in 2008)

Alex wrote: "Thanks for the tip! We've done several stories on the "Letters to Soldiers" mission. Here are a few of them;

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=481&sid=274810
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?&sid=2664727&hl=1
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=358&sid=4697378"

"Denise,

Thanks for your service to all the men and women serving in the armed forces. I was pleased to be a part of such an endevor. Can you please email me your mailing address so I can send you some of the DVD's of the event. I will also be sending the RAW video on DVD's.

thanks"

Darrin Fraser

Creative Director

Mishap Studios.COM

A very special Thank You goes to Shirleen Bess, Former DAV State Auxilliary Commander and her wonderful Seniors for making over 1,500 Beautiful Handmade Christmas Stockings for the deployed Utah Soldiers.

"Hi Denise, I hope you have rested up a bit from our wonderful but cold day in Cedar City! Perhaps the Mayor will remember what a great program this is and help us find a place INSIDE next time.Did the dvd's get done in time for the Post Office, the postman was sure getting nervous.

I really mean it when I say you are welcome at our home when you are in St George. Please keep in touch." Wilma

National holiday spurs many to make a difference

12/22/11

9/22/11 Alex Cabrero of KSL just emailed us he is pitching KSL coverage of Operation Ensuring Christmas V Packaging Day in Cedar City Oct. 8th LIN's Grocery Store Parking Lot 11 to 5 event and here are past stories on Letters to Soldiers stories that KSL covered:

Hi Letters,

Alex Cabrero Ksl Alex wrote: "Thanks for the tip! We've done several stories on the "Letters to Soldiers" mission. Here are a few of them;

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?&sid=2664727&hl=1

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=358&sid=4697378

That was the most precious and moving Operation Ensuring Christmas Concert in 08 Thanks Alex for remembering.

Golf tournament raises money for soldiers' Christmas gifts

James Roh - Daily Herald Daily Herald | Posted: Friday, August 26, 2011 12:20 am |

James Roh

Christian Warther hits the ball on the ninth hole during Operation Ensuring Christmas at Talon's Cove Golf Club in Saratoga Springs on Thursday, August 25, 2011. Operation Ensuring Christmas was a fundraising event for Letters to Soldiers, an organization that works to send packages and support to deployed Utah soldiers and their family members. JAMES ROH/Daily Herald

Close to 140 golfers took to the Talon's Cove Golf Club course on Thursday for Operation Ensuring Christmas, a fundraiser for the local nonprofit organization, Letters to Soldiers. With the goal of supporting deployed Utah soldiers and their families, Letters to Soldiers works to send care packages to soldiers to remind them that they are not forgotten and are appreciated.

"It's just a terrific cause," said Steve Watts, general manager of Talon's Cove Golf Club. "This is our way of saying thanks to them."

Thursday's event, organized by Provo River Constructors and its affiliate companies, raised more than $10,000 for Letters to Soldiers. The money will be used in the upcoming months to ensure that all deployed Utah military personnel will receive care packages in time for Christmas. The packages are stuffed with cards, DVDs, locally made treats and various donations from an impressive number of local companies, both big and small.

"It's really amazing the love these companies have for our military and their families," said Denise DeVynck, the founder of Letters to Soldiers.

The organizers of Operation Ensuring Christmas are planning to host two more fundraisers for Letters to Soldiers in the following months. In addition, Letters to Soldiers is inviting volunteers to help stuff the care packages for soldiers. More information can be found at www.letterstosoldiers.org.

Posted in Saratoga-springs, James-roh on Friday, August 26, 2011 12:20 am Updated: 7:00 am. | Tags: Saratoga Springs, Christmas, Letters To Soldiers, Package, War

"... keep me cc'd on things so I can stay in the loop, OK?

Thanks for all your great work,

Steve" KSL and Deseret News

National holiday spurs many to make a difference

By Mitch Shaw

Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau

Monday, January 17, 2011 - 11:14pm

LAYTON -- Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of service lived Monday as high school students from all over the Top of Utah participated in a special service project.

The Utah Region of the American Red Cross hosted Martin Luther King Jr. Day activities across the state for the fourth consecutive year.

Officially titled "The Martin Luther King Make a Difference Day," the Red Cross event commemorated King's call to serve by allowing students to discuss humanitarian issues and learn from their peers and other leaders in their community.

At the Weber State University Davis campus in Layton, approximately 40 students from Weber, Davis and Morgan counties gathered to make large banners for Utah troops who will be coming home from overseas deployments in the coming months.

"Our theme this year is service for the Armed Forces," said Judy Loper, a volunteer coordinator with the Red Cross.

"They do so much to serve us, and this is a way to serve them and pay them back for all they do."

Denise De Vynck, founder of Letters to Soldiers, participated in the Monday event, helping students make the banners.

De Vynck started the organization four years ago. Since its inception, the group has made banners and written letters for more than 4,000 Utah service members.

"It's important to show them our support in any way we can," De Vynck said.

In addition to making several large banners, the students listened to guest speakers and learned how to operate in a natural disaster.

"It's really great, because school is out today, so these kids are coming on their day off," Loper said. "It's a sacrifice. We call it a day on, not a day off."

Davis High seniors Morgan Bass and Josh Levitre participated in the Monday event.

"It's a good cause," Bass said. "It's our day off, but I think it's a good thing to do some service for the troops."

Levitre said volunteering for the service project was time well spent.

"They do so much for us all year-round," he said. "The least we could do is take a couple of hours from our day to show them support and serve them."

Students who participated were able to earn community service and National Honor Society points.

Past Media:

Volunteers assemble holiday packages for military

Barbara Christiansen - Daily Herald The Daily Herald | Posted: Sunday, October 17, 2010 12:03 am |

Volunteers help to assembly care packages for three Army Reserve Units, two Active Duty Army, two National Guard and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan from Utah on Friday. More than 500 people participated in the event, hosted by IM FLASH. There were many companies that donated products, including handmade stockings, handkerchiefs, brownies, Rice Krispie Treats, cards made by Utah school children, banners, special video wishes, photos with Santa of military families will all go to the deployed military. Courtesy photo

More than 500 people took time off from their regular weekend pursuits Friday evening to assemble packages for those in the military.

It was part of Operation Ensuring Christmas, the fourth annual such event to provide a touch of home at the holidays for those serving abroad. Volunteers packed boxes with books, magazines, puzzles, personal care items, snacks, Christmas stockings and more -- most importantly, with love -- as they prepared to send them to military members for Christmas. The goal was to send 1,600 boxes, but that may not be possible, since donations for shipping were not reached.

There is a week remaining to collect the funds to ship the boxes; otherwise some Marines may have to share a box with four stockings in it. Anyone who wishes to contribute may go to www.letterstosoldiers.org and click on "Donate."

Commander Charles Edwards of Post 4918 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars attended the event in full uniform. He presented a check for $250 to help with the shipping costs. During the year, the VFW takes contributions and collects funds from activities including their sale of Buddy Poppies to help veterans and their families and to help current military personnel with support activities. Edwards said he wished they had more to contribute, but Denise De Vynck, an organizer of the event, said it was welcome.

"This is the third year in a row they have contributed," she said. "It makes it a total of $950 from our veterans here in American Fork."

Edwards and Kent Blanco, commander of the American Legion post, were among the first to wish the men and women Christmas greetings on a DVD produced by students at UVU and recorded at the Friday event. Military families and others also put in appearances on the production, which will be included in the shipment.

Even Santa was on hand to have photos taken with children of the military families, which will also be included in the boxes.

The volunteers filling the boxes had entertainment while they were working, and food was provided by companies including Chick-fil-A, Mimi's Cafe and BYU Creamery. The Chick-fil-A cow greeted youngsters as they were working.

One of those volunteers was Darryl Weddington, who explained why he chose to participate.

"I volunteered because of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the military are providing," he said. "I know their sacrifice, being away from home and their families, and it is greatly appreciated. I wish them safe passage during their tour of duty and God bless. Again, I appreciate the sacrifices."

Posters made by school children lined the edges of the cafeteria of IM Flash Technologies, where the event was held. They included handprints of the students, some signatures and greetings such as "Merry Christmas from the mountains of Utah," "Thank you for keeping us safe," "Thanks for serving our country" and "May God bless you."

Edwards said the VFW was involved as part of its efforts to help the military personnel.

"The VFW post does everything we can to help the troops in any way we can," he said. "We donated money that is collected from the sale of poppies. We have given about $5,000 to the members and their families. Some of the troops are still involved."

He said when they return, he would like to have them join VFW to help others and themselves.

"We need to get all the troops coming back from the war as members of the VFW," he said. "We can help them with benefits and lots of other things."

De Vynck said the boxes are important to the military members, and they provide more than just the contents.

"It is not just about filling a bunch of boxes," she told the volunteers. "Hundreds of people worked so hard all year to make these items." She gave instructions how to insert the items in the boxes, then added a thought.

"Take them and make sure that box is really, really special," she said. "Actually address a card. Write down who made this box. What happens here sends the wishes to the troops."

She told those assembled what it would be like for the military personnel.

"If you can imagine being alone, being shot at, away from everybody at home, and you don't get anything to open on Christmas day," she said. "That is why we do this. Make sure they don't go without something from home."

Deseret News

News / Local / Local Stories

Jason Olson, Deseret News)" href="http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/midres/3484254.jpg" rev=/photos/thumb/3484254.jpg rel=lightbox[storyImages]>

Jason Olson, Deseret News

Ann Jensen sews hankies for servicemen's stockings. The group needs $15,000 to ship the gifts to Iraq, Afghanistan.

Jason Olson, Deseret News)" href="http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/midres/3484273.jpg" rev=/photos/thumb/3484273.jpg rel=lightbox[storyImages]>Gallery (2 photos)

Volunteers looking for cash to ship Christmas gifts to Utah troops

By Rodger L. Hardy

Deseret News

Published: Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010 10:13 p.m. MDT

"SANTAQUIN, Utah County — From her sewing machine and by word of mouth, Ann Jensen helped get 1,100 Christmas stockings filled with goodies to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cache Valley students honored for letters written to soldiers

Posted: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 12:15 am

By Arie Kirk | 1 comment

"With his son Nephi, 3, at his side, U.S. Army cadet Ben Lang, of Logan, thanks Willow Valley Middle School students for their efforts writing letters to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan Tuesday in Wellsville. (Braden Wolfe/Herald Journal)

Students attending two Cache Valley schools were honored Tuesday for winning a statewide competition that had kids writing letters to deployed military from Utah.

Willow Valley Middle School and Woodruff Elementary School tied for writing the most letters - which were delivered to servicemen and women on the Fourth of July - in the valley and the state during the competition.

Students' efforts were celebrated with a visit from local servicemen and Denise DeVynck, director of Letters to Soldiers, the organization that led the drive for Independence Day letters and cards.

DeVynck said the Cache County and Logan City school districts together made 1,500 cards and letters for the Fourth of July.

"These cards and these letters and these banners that these kids make are priceless," she said.

She said the words students write express sentiments that she hasn't read anywhere else. The letters and cards are appreciated, DeVynck said.

"The soldiers and Marines, airmen and seamen love the cards from the kids more than anything else." she said. "That's their favorite thing."

To thank students, DeVynck presented each school with a basket of scrapbook supplies to use for cards and banners for Christmas.

During the assembly at Wellsville's Willow Valley Middle School, students heard from Sgt. Ronald Lorenz, who is with the 144th Area Medical Support Company that is deployed in Afghanistan right now.

Lorenz, who does administrative work for the company and lives in Layton, told students receiving letters boosts morale.

"It just means the world to us," said Lorenz, who received letters and care packages from Utah students while stationed in Iraq.

He applauded students for their help: "You kids, you're the true heroes."

Cadet Ben Lang of Logan spoke to students while his son - who was dressed in uniform like his father - stood at his side. Lang has not been deployed, but he has participated in basic training and advanced individual training in Virginia. Lang said that when he left, his son was so young he could hardly walk and he couldn't talk. When he returned, Lang said, his son "could walk really well and he was talking, and so we miss out on a lot. And while we're gone, what we depend on is letters from you guys."

Lang said he received a lot of letters while in training. For every one he received, he had to do 20 push-ups.

"I did a lot of push-ups, and it was wonderful. So keep writing. Keep our guys in shape," Lang said.

Sherese Merrill, a physical education teacher at Cedar Ridge Middle School, has been the valley's liaison for Letters to Soldiers. Merrill got local schools involved two years ago because she wanted soldiers' work and sacrifices to be praised. She said she is passionate about supporting soldiers. Merrill wants kids to have an appreciation for their service, and she thinks they do.

"They understand and have empathy," she said.

Merrill said students' cards and letters were well written and student participation was impressive.

"I think that's something to celebrate," she said.

DeVynck, who started Letters to Soldiers in March 2007, is now leading an effort for Christmas cards and packages."

For more information, visit www.letterstosoldiers.org.

Volunteers throw packing party for troops' Christmas

By Rodger L. Hardy deseretnews.com:

Deseret News

Published: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009 6:00 p.m. MDT

"PAYSON — City and Walmart employees, Payson High School students and other volunteers are planning a huge packing party to make Christmas merry for 444 Army Reserve soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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."

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Needed: $25,000 for troops' yule gifts

By Cathy Free

Deseret News

Published: Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 12:00 a.m. MDT

"OREM — The late summer tomato plants are withering, the lawns are covered with brown spots and the barbecue grills could use a good scrubbing.

Now that the nights are cool and the kids are heading back to school, there couldn't be a more ideal time, says Denise De Vynck, to start thinking about Christmas.

The countdown is on for the energetic Orem woman, who has only three months to raise $25,000 — enough to pay the postage for more than 2,500 holiday care packages, cards and letters for Utah troops serving in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

When the economy tanked last year, so did her cause, but De Vynck refuses to give up and lick her last envelope.

"I know how much these gifts and letters mean to these soldiers. Sometimes it's the only time they get mail all year," she says. "I've heard it again and again from so many guys: 'It's the first time I felt like somebody cared.'"

This is the third year that the Letters to Soldiers founder has coordinated a Christmas drive for Utah troops, who are grateful every December for those small parcels of chocolates, toiletries and handmade cards from back home.

Now De Vynck, who is disabled with a spinal cord injury and devotes her life to passing along letters sent to her Web site, letterstosoldiers.org, is hoping she can inspire a few thousand people to chip in and keep the cause rolling.

"I know these are hard times, but imagine sitting over in Iraq on Christmas Day," she says during a Free Lunch break from printing another batch of soldier letters sent to her Web site. "As a community, it's important to step up and show how grateful we are for what our troops do."

It wasn't until her former fiance was sent to Iraq that De Vynck realized how many soldiers felt forgotten after months in a dusty and dangerous foreign land.

Her boyfriend sent her an e-mail about how morale in his unit was low because so many men and women were homesick and hadn't received a single card or letter from home.

"I promised him I'd do my best to change that," says De Vynck, who asked everyone she knew to help her write letters and fill small Christmas stockings. She set up booths at festivals, rallied schools to start letter-writing campaigns and had such a tremendous response that she finally set up a Web site.

Today, anyone can go to letterstosoldiers.org to submit a donation or send an e-mail that will be passed along to a soldier's inbox. Besides boosting confidence, the campaign has led to other benefits, says De Vynck.

"I had a military chaplain tell me he was seeing a lot of soldiers with emotional and anger problems," she says, "and he wondered if a few letters on the Fourth of July might help cheer them up. So I sent him 300. He wrote to me later and said they made a huge difference."

De Vynck knows personally how war can traumatize a loved one. When her fiance returned home after 15 months, he was irate and violent, suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. Ultimately, the couple called off their engagement, but they've remained friends.

"It broke my heart," says De Vynck quietly. "I'm hoping he can heal. Like a lot of soldiers, he's been through a lot of stress."

Now that her friend has shipped out for another tour in Iraq, "I feel a duty to make sure he doesn't feel alone," she says. "Every soldier over there deserves a full mailbox."

OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS 09
Read more

REad UTah Valley MAgazine ARticle on how Letters To Soldiers is one of FAB 50 making a difference in the community.

News

News / Local / Local Stories

Last Chance to Thank Soldiers

Janice Peterson - Daily herald | Posted: Thursday, October 8, 2009 12:00 am | No

Here is your last chance to say "Thank YOU" to our deployed Utah Soldiers this year away from home and come win amazing prizes:

This event should snowball larger and larger every year.

"Operation Ensuring Christmas 09", a community wide effort to thank our Military of Utah after 6 plus years at war, enlisted Payson WalMart with their "Volunteerism Always Pays" Grant program having their employees volunteer hours. Payson City is getting local community businesses involved in participating, donating and sponsoring this event, and Payson High School is hosting the Event. Sponsors on board so far that donated items to be given away at the event are: Roberts' Crafts $150 Scrapbooking Basket, Harmon's $50 Gift Certificate, BUY Signed Football, Sweatshirt,and Book, MACEY's $20 Gift Certificates, $10 Sunflower Market Certificates, Café Rio, Seven Peaks and other certificates to restaurants, amuzement parks, etc. Also NEWAYS, Nature's Sunshine, Tahitian Noni, Harmons, and other companies are donating products to put in 900 Soldier's/Airmen's Packages the day of the event. Event goers will be helping package, make

huge banners of Thank You, Christmas cards and decorations for our military serving overseas from Utah. Great Entertainment, fun for the whole family, great food, treats, and more. Come be a part of the Utah Thanks our Military Day and bring items to stuff their home made stockings being made or just a $10 donation to ship one soldier or airman a package this year.

See details, donate or come volunteer at www.letterstosoldiers.org

We are the only organization in Utah that sends packages to entire Utah units. Last year we shipped 1,543 packages to 6 different Utah military deployed units.

This year we hope that with so many in Utah helping us raise the shipping costs for 339 Care Packages for one Utah ARmy Reserve Brigade and 105 for a Battalion, and all the wonderful donated items collected and made by our community. See all details and who is involved at www.letterstosoldiers.org BLOG

Macy's Raising Money to Ensure Christmas

By Sara Lenz - 20 Nov 2008
Macy’s is trying to create its own “miracle on State Street” this year by helping raise $15,000 to send holiday packages to Utah military units serving in Iraq this Christmas.

The department store will host “Operation Ensuring Christmas” events today and tomorrow, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Letters to Soldiers, an organization dedicated to sending support to soldiers abroad is teaming up with Macy’s this year. The organization has already raised $5,000 and needs $10,000 more to reach their goal to create and send 1,500 packages to Utah soldiers.

“I’m really passionate that corporations are one of the biggest groups that can give back to the community,” said Nic Delgado, store manager of Macy’s at University Mall in Orem.

Delgado became the manager in August and has held some community event each month since then. When Denise De Vynck, creator and manager of Letters to Soldiers, came into the store to put up fliers for another event trying to raise money, Delgado decided the store would help raise the money. His grandfather served in the Korean War and would tell him, “Volunteerism is the rent you pay for your time on earth.”

De Vynck created Letters to Soldiers 10 years ago when she saw the need for it in the community. This is only the second year the organization has sponsored a Christmas event and hopes to give letters and packages to 10 times as many soldiers as last year.

She said many soldiers never get letters or packages and this is especially hard around the holidays when they are so far away from home.

“It’s needed,” De Vynck said. “Our soldiers are sacrificing more than they have ever been asked in history. There isn’t something more wonderful than giving to someone who really needs it.”

The packages will go to six different units from Utah whose captains have requested them through the organization’s Web site: www.letterstosoldiers.org. De Vynck said it means even more to the soldiers because it comes from their own state.

Some of the items that will go in the packages are letters from over 40 schools in Utah, chocolate made by a local vendor, homemade stockings, Tahitian Noni products, DVDs of the concert, “The Christmas Box” book donated by the author and calling cards.

Macy’s will raise money for the shipping of these items by selling a CD of LDS singers such as Angela Winston, Allison Janisse and Osmond 2nd Generation, who will be performing at the two-day event. There will also be a silent auction with footballs and a helmet signed by the BYU football team, a Macy’s’ $500 shopping spree certificate, an air hockey table, restaurant certificates and more.

The event will have a fashion show both nights with relatives of the military and visiting veterans as the models. There will be free food, hairstyling consultations, gift card giveaways, and game day items on game day.

De Vynck said so many people came together to make the event work. “It’s like the true miracle on 34th street,” she said.

Macy’s Operation Ensuring Christmas Events:

Today: 2 drawings for $50 gift certificates, free food, hairstyling and beauty consultations

6:30 p.m. Benefit Concert featuring Angela Winston

7 p.m. Fashion show featuring veterans and relatives of soldiers as models

8 p.m. The Osmonds: The 2nd Generation

Nov. 21: 2 drawings for $50 gift certificates, free food, hairstyling and beauty consultations

6-9 BYU Tailgate Party with free game day items and showing of the Utah v. BYU game

6:30 p.m. Benefit Concert featuring LAnternlane and Karry Drisdum adn the One Voice Choir

7 p.m. Fashion show featuring veterans and relatives of soldiers as models

8 p.m. Special THe Diamond Experience

June 15, 2008 Deseret News Interview Article on our Welcome Home Troops Celebration Fundraiser and Concert:

April 4th, 2008 NPR Mid Day Report INterview (coming soon) We read many letters from all over America and letters poured in again.

"Dear Soldier,

I am pregnant with my fourth child and was on the way to my first doctor's appointment when I heard about LetterstoSoldiers.org on NPR. Thank you for making the choice to fight for our country, for defending our rights and those of others throughout the world.

My kids are being raised in such a different world than when I was growing up. It can be frightening thinking of things that are happening in this day and age, and can be overwhelming worrying about little ones trying to grow and enjoy life.

I'm grateful that you are fighting to save something for not just my three (almost 4!) children, but for all children. The symbol of freedom and what our country stands for is something I need to teach my children more about. Your example of defending our most important gifts is truly a wonderful one. I'm grateful I was listening to NPR today, it reminded me that these are important things to teach and instill as values and that there are more important role models for our children than (I'm going to get in trouble for saying this!) teenage rock stars. Thank you for being one of those.

God bless you.

Melanie L. "

Valentine's Day 2008 for National Guard Wives with Mayor of SLC and Letters to Soldiers

Mayor honors families of troops serving overseas
Many Utahns spent Valentine's Day deployed in a war zone, so Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Letters to Soldiers honored the wives of many Utah National Guardsmen serving in Iraq.

28 minutes ago | Read More | Video

Deseret Morning News "The event was organized by Denise Devynck, founder of Letters to Soldiers program."

Valentine's Day "FM100 Mornings with Brian and Rebecca" enjoyed the National Guard wives and mothers put on by Letters to Soldiers with Mayor Becker.

"Valentine's Breakfast with Soldier's Families, Mayor Becker, and Brian and Rebecca"

"Thanks to Letters to Soldiers' Denise De Vynck and J. T. for planning a beautiful Valentine's Breakfast to celebrate with the wives and mothers from Units of the National Guard for Valentines. By the way, Letters to soldiers sent over 600 Student made Christmas cards, 150 hand made stockings and 150 boxes of items to the troops. WE also just sent 500 student cards from AF and PG Jr. High Schools to all the troops in National Guard of the National Guard for Valentines. Lte. T. that came to the breakfast with his family is taking back 231 cards made by elementary school children. "

KSL 5 News, Utah December 3, 2007

Download and view the news footage here

Thanks Gene, Keith and Amy from the USPS for your help getting these packages to Iraq in time for Christmas.

"An Orem woman is making the holidays a bit sweeter for U.S. Army troops stationed in Iraq.

Over the past eight months, Denise DeVynck collected items such as hand warmers, socks, personal hygiene products, homemade treats, and handmade cards.

Several local businesses and schools and people from around the country donated items or wrote letters of support to be included in the packages.

Today 150 boxes were shipped out to the soldiers in hopes of arriving in time for the holidays."

Go to www.letterstosoldiers.org to write a letter and see how you can participate. Anyone in Utah wanting to send multiple packages to APO/FPO addresses contact Amy Williams, the USPS specialist for shipping at 801-887-1901.

NPR Day to Day, November 22, 2007

The story about us follows a sad story of a mom reading a letter to her fallen son.

Letters to Soldiers

Last Edited: Sunday, 18 Nov 2007, 7:38 PM MST

"If you'd like to write to someone serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, visit: www.letterstosoldiers.org "

WB30 Veteran's Day Interview

ABC 4 News/Good Things Utah ,Labor Day, 2007

"Denise de Vynck has lived a life of service.

For 9 years she's been the director of the non-profit organization Save-a-Dog and kids. Recently, she started a letters for soldiers program and has sent hundreds of letters to troops overseas.

The troops and their service have a special place in Denise's heart. 'The world they're fighting in is so hard so any word of comfort or 'thank you' or 'you are my hero' or 'come home safely, we pray for you every night' means the world to these troops,' says Denise."

Donations for our troops

Last Update: 6/18 3:45 pm

Print 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, they already have 1,500 calling cards and Christmas candies.

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

06/09/09 Come listen to our Letters to Soldiers INterview on "Personal Touch" LDS Interviews with FM100's Rebecca Cressman Our Neighborhood:

06/08/09 "Denise,

These are great photos! Thank you. Great job on the interview too. Hussein was wonderful ((Iraqi Translator volunteer of ours)

The show will be emailed out on Wednesday morning to those who subscribe to YourLDSNeighborhood.com, it will also be hosted on the website on the "Personal Touch" link. Once the mp3 is uploaded (Wed) you can have access to it off the website.

Here's a link to last week's. But I wouldn't post your link until Wednesday afternoon, that way you're picture and interview appears on the page.

Thanks again!"

Rebecca C. FM100

Every week Rebecca Cressman posts new topical and enlightening audio interviews with exemplary individuals who stand up for the right principles. Our goal is to celebrate all people from diverse careers throughout the world who inspire others because of their work, their drive, and their positive lifestyles. Check back each week for even more inspirational resources.

Volunteers assemble holiday packages for military

500 plus employees of IMFLASH volunteered to help make the care packages for 1,600 deployed service members of 10 units/brigades/battallians.Wives of soldiers with their special packages and giftsTreats: 1,600 Rice Krispie Treats made by Ann JEnsen and her wards in Santaquin, and 1,600 Dried Cherries with special labels donated by Payson Fruit Growers which earned the most special product donated that year plaque.

Commander Edwards of VFW of American Fork and Utah County, and AMerican Legion Commander

We wanted the wives and kids of UTNG 118th and 141st to make extra special care packages, banners, Santa's Photos, Video Christmas Wishes duplicated on DVD into each care package and we gave them free gift certificates donated by Applebees, Cheesecake Factorym Harmon's, Sunflower MArket, Cafe Rios, Costa Vida, and others.

Barbara Christiansen - Daily Herald The Daily Herald Front page | Posted: Sunday, October 17, 2010 12:03 am |