Group sending gifts to soldiers overseas

Help send Christmas cards and gifts to military troops overseas this holiday season by attending a concert or volunteering with the Utah-based nonprofit Letters To Soldiers.

Led by Orem's Denise Devynck, Letters To Soldiers is trying to raise $15,000 to fund the cost of packaging and shipping the cards and gifts to six units of National Guard, Army Reserve and Marines stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. So far, Devynck has raised about $1,000.

The second annual "Operation Ensuring Christmas" concert will be Nov. 5, 7 to 9 p.m., at Studio 600, 26 E. 600 South, Salt Lake City. Performers include Diamond Rio's Dan Truman and Angela Winston. Proceeds from the concert will be used to fund the packaging and shipping costs.

The only way to purchase concert tickets is by visiting www.letterstosoldiers.org, where the public can click the "Donate" link for $10 advance tickets, which are $5 for members of the military.

Devynck is also looking for volunteers to help put up fliers advertising the concert and also to make 1,500 stockings.

For more information call Devynck at 801-808-4424 or e-mail her at info@letterstosoldiers.org.