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Service Projects
With the help of volunteers across the US and the world who write letters, make cards and banners and hand made items to send our brave and selfless deployed military men and women, we hope to show them that we have not forgotten their great sacrifices for us by shipping special care packages to them. We also collect support from the community for their families while they hold down the fort at home. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IS IN THE VIDEO on the site. Letters to Soldiers has many opportunities to be of service whether it be donating goods or helping put together care packages. Here are a few opportunites offered to help out Letters to Soldiers:
2012 is under way with OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS VI
Volunteers needed for calling companies for Grants, Donated items and hosting/volunteers for Packaging Day in October. Looking for a company to host and sponsor Letters to Soldiers Annual Golf Tournament for their employees. We will also be sending Valentine's Day (Sent), July 4th Cards from Schools all over US. We need volunteers to follow up with schools all over Utah to collect those cards and banners.
Looking up company contact info on the internet ( Google things like Running Shoes, Sporting equipment, electronics and computer games, DVD movies, CD music, laptops/Ipads, webcams, cameras and camcorders and so many more items they can use)
-
Calling Companies for donations
-
Finding and coordinating volunteers to make stockings, school cards/banners, and other hand made items
-
Setting up booths at festivals and other events, coordinating Welcome Home, Christmas Parties, and other events for military, Concerts:
-
Printing online letters, getting supplies donated by companies like paper, ink, electronics needed
-
Fundraising, media PR, and other professional services
-
Webmaster and other digital media
-
Media Press Releases
-
Coordinating collection of donated items, packaging, printing prepaid labels and customs forms, pick by USPS
-
School Assemblies, collecting cards, letters and banners and helping schools do fund raisers, donated items collection, etc
-
· Scouting Eagle Projects, School Collection of items, cards, letters, and funds for shipping: One Scout earning his Eagle collecting 3,000 cards from Alpine School District, Logan and Cache Valley covered, and Washington County, now we need help with other counties year round for all holidays and Great job for 4th year our #1 teach Sheresse Merrill for collecting 3,300 cards from 26 schools in Logan and Cache Valley schools.
-
Collecting cards, letters and banners from schools, helping print online letters from our website, helping match up penpals with servicemembers and more.
Helping with Social Media posting daily on Facebook, Twitter and other sources.
Making hand made items like Christmas Stockings, Patriotic Pillow Cases, knitting hats, and other wonderful things you have talent at making for the military away from home.
Googling contact info of companies for items listed on our "Care Package" page, grant writing, fundraising like helping plan a corporate Golf Tournament.
Just email us at info@letterstosoldiers.org to join this rewarding effort
"Denise,
We wanted to post on our website some tasks that people in the community can do without a lot of training or expense. One of the things that came to mind is to suggest they make welcome home banners. Since we’ve worked with you on this before, I wanted to ask you a few questions:
Are there any recommendations or standards for size, colors, and especially for content (what should be there, what cannot be there)?(Any size, colors, just positive Thank Yous to our Troops, Merry Christmas too)
Can they deliver the banners to you somewhere or would you have storage problems, and related to that, how many banners would you need in, say, a year?(We can take 100s for deployed soldiers from Utah and some other units that ask us throughtout the year from around the country).
I don’t want to suggest a project unless there’s a real need for banners without overwhelming your capacity. I know Hill AFB has taken a few from us. Do you know of anyone else who would accept and use banners? I don’t want to create a situation where any of our agencies would have to take on extra work.
Your thoughts?"
Nancy Emergency Services Specialist
American Red Cross of Northern Utah
Utah
Conference
On Service
APRIL 25, 2012
DAVIS CONFERENCE CENTER
Volunteerism: Changing Communities: Join us at the state’s largest gathering of volunteer
managers and service leaders from the nonpro
fi t, government, faith-based, and corporate sectors.
LEARN, CONNECT, BE INSPIRED,
Featured Speakers:
Tammi DeVille
author of
Changing the World on a Tuesday Night
also:
Natalie Gouchnour, Salt Lake Chamber
Kaira Esgate, Reimagining Service
The Conference concludes with:
The Utah Volunteer Service Awards celebrate
the extraordinary volunteer efforts of Utahns all
across the state. Ten State awards will be
presented at the Banquet, including the
Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award and
the Lt. Governors Civic Volunteer of the Year
Award.
Pricing:
$105 Feb 6 - Feb 29
$125 Mar 1 - Mar 30
$75 Student Rate
$10 Banquet
$25 Banquet Only
with Conference Registration
Register Online at volunteers.utah.gov beginning February 6, 2012
2012
The Lieutenant
Governor’s
2012
UTAH
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
& AWARDS BANQUET
APRIL 25, 2012
THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR’S
sample classes include:
Engaging Older Adults Screening & Interviewing Volunteers
Reimagining Service How National Service Can Help Your Nonpro
fi t
Evaluating Volunteers Managing Your Time
Identifying Work Styles Media, Marketing & the Volunteer World
Volunteer Retention Motivating & Training Volunteers
Engaging Youth Cool Tech Tools
________________________________________
Thank you to our sponsors ________________________________________
Nominate a Volunteer at volunteers.utah.gov before February 13, 2012
The Banquet Keynote Address
Judge Valdez
DAVIS CONFERENCE CENTER
“The workshops were very, very informational.
There were things I wish everyone would learn,
and things that I will de
fi nitely use for the rest of
my life”.
-2011 Conference on Service Attendee-
A conference dedicated to improving volunteer management in Utah
and MAKE A DIFFERENCE through a wide range of
exciting and informative sessions, workshops, special events and more. Help us honor volunteers
in Utah as the Conference concludes with the State Volunteer Recognition and Awards Banquet.
Support our Utah Wounded Warriors like we have by donating to Homes for our Troops since 2008 for Gordy Ewell. These heroes deserve our support. What a great cause.
"Army SPC Isaac Jensen, a combat medic on his first military deployment, lost both of his legs and suffered a severe arm injury including irreversible nerve damage to his left arm on November 9, 2008 when two one-hundred pound bombs detonated within close range in Malalah, Iraq.
While searching an Iraqi home with two other soldiers, one of them opened the refrigerator door triggering the blast, which seriously injured all three soldiers. SPC Jensen suffered a compound fracture of his wrist but using one hand, managed to place tourniquets …
View the video within this link to learn more about SPC Isaac Jensen: http://www.homesforourtroops.org/Jensen
Building Specially Adapted Homes For Our Severely Injured Veterans AT NO COST TO THE VETERANS WE SERVE".
Homes for our Troops will be building a new home for SPC Jensen in West Point on February 10, 11 & 12, 2012 at
West Point, UT 84015
Our 2011 Sub 4 Santa efforts were very successful: Thank you Century Link employees, Josie organized, in St. George for sponsoring one military family with 6 children that has really sacrificed so much while dad was deployed two years in a row. They are so grateful. 
We have12 more families of soldiers that deployed in 2010 and now are deploying again in Jan. of 2012 that due to economy could not find work and have had to sell whatever they could just to put food on the table and put gas in the car. Can anyone donate Grocery Store Certificates and Gas Certificates? Here are some of the pictures and letters:
"Denise,
I wanted to share with you both the following e-mail from our manager Brett Echols on the opportunity we had in Southern Utah to help Make A Christmas come true for a family of 8 in Parowan Utah. We were able to assist Cindy and Jason, W. who have 6 children from 17 to 8, with providing Christmas.
It was wonderful to have the experience since this is my first time in the Southern arena. I am so proud to be part of this team, as “We” all reached in deep within our pockets/ hearts to help a family in need. The W.s’ were very appreciative and wanted to Thank everyone for their much needed help In parting on behalf of CenturyLink we thanked Jason and Cindy for the sacrifices they both have made in having Soldier Jason, serve for our freedom.
This is the Spirit of Christmas…………"
Josie G Martinez
Area Plant Service Supervisor
Cedar City/St. George Utah
Century Link
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Team,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your generosity. We were able to give the W. Family a nice Christmas, but more importantly we were able to demonstrate the spirit of what this holiday season is about. Josie will have to correct me if my facts are wrong but I believe that all told we had more than $900 donated and we were able to get the W. family not only all that they hoped for on Christmas but then some. We were able to get several gift cards donated, for example, Nails by Geri for a Pedicure/Manicure gift certificate and Costa Vida for movie tickets and meals for the family in Cedar City. I would like to give a special thanks to Joann S., Laine’s wife, for all that help that she gave Josie in buying the presents and getting them wrapped. Josie, thanks to you for organizing it and making it happen.
I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday this year and I look forward to having many more with you. Thank you for all the hard work that you put into making our market successful and showing that you committed to not only bringing Southern Utah the best product that we have but also that you care about the communities that we live in. Let’s all keep this spirit of giving and hard work going throughout this whole new year!"
Brett Echols
Area Operations Manager
Southern Utah
CenturyLink
"My name is Sheena M. and I am an Assistant Manager at the Cinemark movie theater at the pike in long beach. I would like to request to become a drop off location for letter for soldiers. We are doing a promotion for Arthur Christmas the movie opening on Nov. 23 2011 and thought it would be a perfect time to collect donations as well as toys for this lovely organization. Please contact us back asap.
Business: Cinemark theater
Location: 347
Address: 99 s. pine ave. Long beach ca Contact: Sheena "
And Espril Wholesale Florist Corey
has graciously offered to provide the flowers for 150 corsages, big white and black rose arrangement for the podium for Generals and soldiers of the Civil Affairs 405th Battalion at their Dining Out. He also offered his location and materials to make the corsages before the Dining Out. Wives Floral Designers in Utah needed. Thank you Brown Floral and Esprit for donating flowers and arrangement of them for 150 Corsages as well as the most beautiful flower arrangement of Black "Twilight" and White Roses. The event was so elegant. 
With the help of volunteers across the US and the world who write letters, make cards and banners and hand made items to send our brave and selfless deployed military men and women, we hope to show them that we have not forgotten their great sacrifices for us by shipping special care packages to them. We also collect support from the community for their families while they hold down the fort at home. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IS IN THE VIDEO on the site. Letters to Soldiers has many opportunities to be of service whether it be donating goods or helping put together care packages. Here are a few opportunites offered to help out Letters to Soldiers:
2012 is under way with OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS VI
Volunteers needed for calling companies for Grants, Donated items and hosting/volunteers for Packaging Day in October. Looking for a company to host and sponsor Letters to Soldiers Annual Golf Tournament for their employees. We will also be sending Valentine's Day (Sent), July 4th Cards from Schools all over US. We need volunteers to follow up with schools all over Utah to collect those cards and banners.
Looking up company contact info on the internet ( Google things like Running Shoes, Sporting equipment, electronics and computer games, DVD movies, CD music, laptops/Ipads, webcams, cameras and camcorders and so many more items they can use)
-
Calling Companies for donations
-
Finding and coordinating volunteers to make stockings, school cards/banners, and other hand made items
-
Setting up booths at festivals and other events, coordinating Welcome Home, Christmas Parties, and other events for military, Concerts:
-
Printing online letters, getting supplies donated by companies like paper, ink, electronics needed
-
Fundraising, media PR, and other professional services
-
Webmaster and other digital media
-
Media Press Releases
-
Coordinating collection of donated items, packaging, printing prepaid labels and customs forms, pick by USPS
-
School Assemblies, collecting cards, letters and banners and helping schools do fund raisers, donated items collection, etc
-
· Scouting Eagle Projects, School Collection of items, cards, letters, and funds for shipping: One Scout earning his Eagle collecting 3,000 cards from Alpine School District, Logan and Cache Valley covered, and Washington County, now we need help with other counties year round for all holidays and Great job for 4th year our #1 teach Sheresse Merrill for collecting 3,300 cards from 26 schools in Logan and Cache Valley schools.
-
Collecting cards, letters and banners from schools, helping print online letters from our website, helping match up penpals with servicemembers and more.
Helping with Social Media posting daily on Facebook, Twitter and other sources.
Making hand made items like Christmas Stockings, Patriotic Pillow Cases, knitting hats, and other wonderful things you have talent at making for the military away from home.Googling contact info of companies for items listed on our "Care Package" page, grant writing, fundraising like helping plan a corporate Golf Tournament.
Just email us at info@letterstosoldiers.org to join this rewarding effort
"Denise,
We wanted to post on our website some tasks that people in the community can do without a lot of training or expense. One of the things that came to mind is to suggest they make welcome home banners. Since we’ve worked with you on this before, I wanted to ask you a few questions:
Are there any recommendations or standards for size, colors, and especially for content (what should be there, what cannot be there)?(Any size, colors, just positive Thank Yous to our Troops, Merry Christmas too)
Can they deliver the banners to you somewhere or would you have storage problems, and related to that, how many banners would you need in, say, a year?(We can take 100s for deployed soldiers from Utah and some other units that ask us throughtout the year from around the country).
I don’t want to suggest a project unless there’s a real need for banners without overwhelming your capacity. I know Hill AFB has taken a few from us. Do you know of anyone else who would accept and use banners? I don’t want to create a situation where any of our agencies would have to take on extra work.
Your thoughts?"
Nancy Emergency Services Specialist
American Red Cross of Northern Utah
Utah
Conference
On Service
APRIL 25, 2012
DAVIS CONFERENCE CENTER
Volunteerism: Changing Communities: Join us at the state’s largest gathering of volunteer
managers and service leaders from the nonpro
fi t, government, faith-based, and corporate sectors.
LEARN, CONNECT, BE INSPIRED,
Featured Speakers:
Tammi DeVille
author of
Changing the World on a Tuesday Night
also:
Natalie Gouchnour, Salt Lake Chamber
Kaira Esgate, Reimagining Service
The Conference concludes with:
The Utah Volunteer Service Awards celebrate
the extraordinary volunteer efforts of Utahns all
across the state. Ten State awards will be
presented at the Banquet, including the
Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award and
the Lt. Governors Civic Volunteer of the Year
Award.
Pricing:
$105 Feb 6 - Feb 29
$125 Mar 1 - Mar 30
$75 Student Rate
$10 Banquet
$25 Banquet Only
with Conference Registration
Register Online at volunteers.utah.gov beginning February 6, 2012
2012
The Lieutenant
Governor’s
2012
UTAH
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION
& AWARDS BANQUET
APRIL 25, 2012
THE LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR’S
sample classes include:
Engaging Older Adults Screening & Interviewing Volunteers
Reimagining Service How National Service Can Help Your Nonpro
fi t
Evaluating Volunteers Managing Your Time
Identifying Work Styles Media, Marketing & the Volunteer World
Volunteer Retention Motivating & Training Volunteers
Engaging Youth Cool Tech Tools
________________________________________
Thank you to our sponsors ________________________________________
Nominate a Volunteer at volunteers.utah.gov before February 13, 2012
The Banquet Keynote Address
Judge Valdez
DAVIS CONFERENCE CENTER
“The workshops were very, very informational.
There were things I wish everyone would learn,
and things that I will de
fi nitely use for the rest of
my life”.
-2011 Conference on Service Attendee-
A conference dedicated to improving volunteer management in Utah
and MAKE A DIFFERENCE through a wide range of
exciting and informative sessions, workshops, special events and more. Help us honor volunteers
in Utah as the Conference concludes with the State Volunteer Recognition and Awards Banquet.
Evaluating Volunteers Managing Your Time
Identifying Work Styles Media, Marketing & the Volunteer World
Volunteer Retention Motivating & Training Volunteers
Engaging Youth Cool Tech Tools
“The workshops were very, very informational.
There were things I wish everyone would learn,
and things that I will de
my life”.
Support our Utah Wounded Warriors like we have by donating to Homes for our Troops since 2008 for Gordy Ewell. These heroes deserve our support. What a great cause.
"Army SPC Isaac Jensen, a combat medic on his first military deployment, lost both of his legs and suffered a severe arm injury including irreversible nerve damage to his left arm on November 9, 2008 when two one-hundred pound bombs detonated within close range in Malalah, Iraq.
While searching an Iraqi home with two other soldiers, one of them opened the refrigerator door triggering the blast, which seriously injured all three soldiers. SPC Jensen suffered a compound fracture of his wrist but using one hand, managed to place tourniquets …
View the video within this link to learn more about SPC Isaac Jensen: http://www.homesforourtroops.org/Jensen
Building Specially Adapted Homes For Our Severely Injured Veterans AT NO COST TO THE VETERANS WE SERVE".
Homes for our Troops will be building a new home for SPC Jensen in West Point on February 10, 11 & 12, 2012 at
West Point, UT 84015
West Point, UT 84015
"Denise,
I wanted to share with you both the following e-mail from our manager Brett Echols on the opportunity we had in Southern Utah to help Make A Christmas come true for a family of 8 in Parowan Utah. We were able to assist Cindy and Jason, W. who have 6 children from 17 to 8, with providing Christmas.
It was wonderful to have the experience since this is my first time in the Southern arena. I am so proud to be part of this team, as “We” all reached in deep within our pockets/ hearts to help a family in need. The W.s’ were very appreciative and wanted to Thank everyone for their much needed help In parting on behalf of CenturyLink we thanked Jason and Cindy for the sacrifices they both have made in having Soldier Jason, serve for our freedom.
This is the Spirit of Christmas…………"
Josie G Martinez
Area Plant Service Supervisor
Cedar City/St. George Utah
Century Link
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Team,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your generosity. We were able to give the W. Family a nice Christmas, but more importantly we were able to demonstrate the spirit of what this holiday season is about. Josie will have to correct me if my facts are wrong but I believe that all told we had more than $900 donated and we were able to get the W. family not only all that they hoped for on Christmas but then some. We were able to get several gift cards donated, for example, Nails by Geri for a Pedicure/Manicure gift certificate and Costa Vida for movie tickets and meals for the family in Cedar City. I would like to give a special thanks to Joann S., Laine’s wife, for all that help that she gave Josie in buying the presents and getting them wrapped. Josie, thanks to you for organizing it and making it happen.
I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday this year and I look forward to having many more with you. Thank you for all the hard work that you put into making our market successful and showing that you committed to not only bringing Southern Utah the best product that we have but also that you care about the communities that we live in. Let’s all keep this spirit of giving and hard work going throughout this whole new year!"
Brett Echols
Area Operations Manager
Southern Utah
CenturyLink
Business: Cinemark theater
Location: 347
Address: 99 s. pine ave. Long beach ca Contact: Sheena "
And Espril Wholesale Florist Corey
ATTN: So Utah families of deployed soldiers:
OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS V PACKAGING DAY (Dont forget we have more packages to do for other Utah and US soldiers that have requested them, and more items needed listed at bottom of this page)
"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 222nd/213th. 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 222nd that you worked with, that would be fantastic!"
Thanks,
Amy B.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN OREM TO HELP COLLECT MORE ITEMS, MAKE FRESH TREATS, MAKE CARE PACKAGES AND KEEP COLLECTING SHIPPING COSTS FOR OTHER DEPLOYED MILITARY. Contact info@letterstosoldiers.org
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
Mission Statement/Press Release of Oct. 8th Project: America needs to continue to support as a community our brave men and women and their families sacrificing so much for our safety, freedom and security. Here is a wonderful example of a local store LIN’s and it’s corporate partners bringing the community together with a local charity and raising $6,000 on their own as well as hosting the effort we would love for you to come to:
ATTENTION EVERYONE LINS IN CEDAR CITY HAS MOVED THE PACKAGING PARTY/CONCERT OCT 8TH FOR THE 222/213 FAMILIES to the Cedar City Park accross from LIN's WITH CONCERT OF THE MUDDY BOOTS BAND, CARIE WALL, Mason Cottam and Craig Neville, national anthem are kayla wing, shyanna morgan , and savanna morgan from families of the 222 at 11am opening prayer by grandfather of soldier , one of sons of deployed soldier is also singing anthem at 1pm with color Guard Mayors of Cedar City and other cities are invited, AND OTHER PERFORMERS, LINE DANCING LESSONS WITH SUE, FREE FOOD FOR THE MILITARY FAMILIES , GAMES FOR KIDS, TOYS/ COTTON CANDY, COCACOLA FREE DRINKS ALL DAY, THE PASTRY PUB PASTRIES, GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR FAMILIES OF DEPLOYED SOLDIERS, MAKING OF 500 CARE PACKAGES WITH OVER 20 ITEMS EACHof Hand made Stockings, Homemade treats & Phillips Chocolates, Made in Utah Natural Personal Care Products, Dvds of our Video Wishes on Packaging Day, CARDS FROM SO UTAH SCHOOLS, CARD/BANNER AND VIDEO WISHES MAKING THAT DAY, with SANTA CLAUS, COVERED PAVILION ACROSS FROM LIN’S PARKING LOT, TENTS WILL ALSO BE SET UP SO WE WILL ALL BE COVERED. THANK YOU LIN’S STORES IN CEDAR CITY, ST GEORGE AND HURRICANE FOR RAISING THE $6,000 SHIPPING COSTS.
All are invited. Wow Cedar City Friday is 55 and raining, but Saturday is 60 and partly cloudy. We will have heaters, tents and should have a wonderful day with the families of the soldiers and so many people are coming from all over Utah to make this happen.
Sponsors: LINS, Associated Foods, Poll Sound, Melanie at the UPS Store for printing the package prepaid labels, Mishap Studios, Jeannine of Utah Summer Games for being so wonderful to bring us EZ Upds, as well as a 20 x 30 tent, Santa, Santa Chair by Mae of Wedding Décor providing the biggest tent, heaters, Santa, and Santa Chair, and decorations by Irresistable Weddings, Happy Factory toys donated 435-586-8352 DONNA happy@infowest.com happyfactory.com 400 toys are being brought by mom of a soldier 896 N. 2175 W. Circle Cedar City, UT 84720, Rusty and Ron at Rusty's Ranch House, Cyrus of the Pastry Pub bringing us 1,100 delicious pastries, Cravings Restaurant, Little Ceasars and Kathy from FunTimeINflatables bringing the fun Cotton Candy machine and HiStryker for the kids, Katie from Fairview Corner Station for our Facebook “Operation Ensuring Christmas” page and 100 gifts for the kids, 150 flags from Colin Twitchell, and Paul Cousins for helping get the word out to all the Boy Scouts, Pizza Factory, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, Little Ceasars, 5 Buck Pizza, Costa Vida and Chilis so far and other restaurants have been invited. Cedar Middle School is making beautiful banners for the event and to put in the care packages and Washington County, Sevier, Iron County and Beaver County schools are making cards being collected by DAV St. Geroge Commander Steven Duke. Amy of Service Corps and Rashelle at SUU is gathering volunteers¸ and the many volunteers coming from SLC to St. George. We are still looking for a Color Guard to do the Flag Ceremony with one of 222 soldier’s son singing the National Anthem, along with another great star. Contact Letters to Soldiers at info@letterstosoldiers.org or 801-808-4424 and if you wish to see what they have done for military and families go watch the promo video at www.letterstosoldiers.org.
What we need are volunteers that can be there 6am to 11 am to set up 4 strong men at 6am to help put up 20 x 30 tent and 10 EZ ups, then meeting at 9am for volunteers that can stay for sure to man a table like food, each item for care packages tables, kids games from 9am to 5pm that we can count on not leaving ( we will bring them food/drinks and bathroom break) because we only have 500 of each item for the care packages and can’t allow anyone to put more than one in each package, and card making, banner making and Video Wishes with Santa stations. Big 40” TV screen for Video of soldiers with packages behind the performers will need manning. ( We hope to have Boy Scouts to come help, SUU students, and have at least 4 other volunteers coming from SLC and St. George areas).
What is going in the care packages this year: 500 of: Nature’s Sunshine Fresh Silver Shield Wipes, Paperback Books, Everybody Balls, Neways Sunscreen, Tahitian Noni lotion and after shave, Hand made stockings from Brigham City to St. George, Hand Warmers, Phillips Chocolates/Candies, Young Living Juice Samples, RCWilley computer games, Payson Fruit Growers Dried Cherries, Colonial Flags, Hunting/Fish n Game magazines, Calling Cards, Homemade treats from Santaquin, DV Ds of our Packaging Day and Christmas Wishes by families and volunteers that day duplicated by Mishap Studio, and waiting to confirm other products as well as 1000s of Christmas cards by So Utah Schools and Banners. ( We also invited the families of the soldiers to bring what they wanted to put in with our care packages)
Donated for the Families of the 222 so far: Free Kids Meals from Chili’s, The Garden House, 500 Artic Circle, Costa Vida, Ace Hardware - 2 - $10 gift certificates., Forever Summer Tanning Salon - 2 certificates with 5 sessions on each, Hollywood Video - 49 cards for a free movie rental each, Jackson Cleaners - 3 - $10 gift certificates, Sunshine Nutrition , Urban Dawgz (bakery and self grooming) Thank you Sue in Cedar City for helping call to get these. Wow we gave all the mothers and wives certificates collected by all volunteers. Thank you volunteers Rashelle, Sue and the wonderful businesses of Cedar City.
From Officer with the 500 Utah Soldiers in Iraq Oct.,1 2011:
"YOU ALL ARE AWESOME!!!
Thank you for your daily selfless support through prayers and watching over our families. You all are truly amazing! We could not ask for better support from the Communities , families and friends and the selfless service that is provided by all of you.. Your soldiers are truly outstanding in an environment that is vague and ever changing.
They continue to do what ever it takes each day to selflessly serve each other and there country knowing that the atmosphere they are working in, is lacking in honor ,trust, and selflessness. You all should and deserve to be so Proud of Your soldiers , they DO the right thing every day no matter how nebulous it may appear. It is truly humbling and an honor to serve with all of them each day and to watch them adjust to this unstable environment between politics and religion.
Again, I cannot thank you all enough for the love felt support from across the state. Please be proud of your soldiers they are honorable and selfless in the service of there country and there communities across the state. I could not be more honored to serve with your soldiers, they are doing an Outstanding Job!
Sincerely"
V/R
LTC Brad Fuller
"I think about the soldiers in that dirt out there and I can' t help but do something." Our #1 volunteer in Santaquin Utah.