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.

e-mail: rodger@desnews.com