Pictured is some of the Letters from Home Party New Friends. 

                       "Elkland Search and Rescue" who joined up with the party to fill bags for the troops. 

          We gave them the honor of filling the dog handlers bags along with the many rawhide treats that the dogs overseas will be receiving.  Everyone from all over sent in extra treats for the military working dogs.  They are going to be pleasantly surprised to see the boxes of rawhides for the dogs. 

        But let me go on to tell you about our new friends.  Elkland Search and Rescue has been in existence since 1985. At the time the organization was started with a few friends who, following a local plane crash saw a need for an organized group to search for lost, missing and injured persons.  Since that time, they have grown to a membership of 32, offering a variety of opportunities for volunteerism whether it be in the woods in search of victims or behind the scenes in making sure the searches have proper equipment and food.  They are a member of the PA SEARCH AND RESCUE COUNCIL.  They quietly volunteer to do their job 24/7.  When we meet them the day before at the Jeep Cruise-in at Schneider Auto Repair, it was to ask us what they could do for us.

    They told us of their struggle to keep the organization going financially, and we told them to join us and help us with our stuffing of 3,000 packages, and with less than 24 hour notice, they showed up to help us, in 95 degree temperate to assemble the packages. With 10 of their members giving up their Sunday afternoon for the troops, they had no idea what they were in for. They never knew of what exactly Letters from Home Letter Stuffing Party was all about, but we know as we welcomed them to be a part of the fever of the ever growing need to help, we know we can count on them at any time for help, so folks lets not forget our local warriors, who selfishly day or night are there for us here in the USA when we have an emergency.  Support our Elkland Search and Rescue Unit so that if you ever need them, they will be here for us. For more info, please contact us on how you can help them.

                  Here is another volunteer,  we should be all proud of,

                                                                Jennifer Young,

                                                        Elk County Fair Queen 2005 -06

We had Jenn stop for a moment and take a picture with some of the men from Letters from Home.

Pictured is Bob Thorwart, Steve Gornati, Jack Pauline, Jim Jovenitti, and Duane Duffy.

And here is Jenn, Brenda Howard, Jim Jovenitti and Crystal Gornati  helping at the post office with the 153 boxes for the troops.  Boy were some of the boxes heavy as we formed a line of people to unload.  The weather was sure hot, but the Queen never stopped for a minute as the chain of boxes were unpacked from the truck to the post office.  Thank you to Merlin Young for the use of the trailer to haul the boxes.

Another great volunteer showed up to help with the organization of the many packages.

Thank you Linda Gerber, for keeping everyone in line.  We missed your face, and are

glad you could come when we needed you.  We loved your ARMY hat!!

And how about these 2 special little volunteers that have shown up time after time, to make the packages for the troops so special. Quentin and Lillian Neff came decked out in their handmade patriotic shirts.  Quentin was the honored recipient of a medallion from SPC Amanda Leavitt from the PANG (Kane Unit) who just recently returned from a year in Iraq.  She thanked Quentin for all his efforts helping the program.

Joyce Kent, Verna Nightway and Mag Pauline always make sure that the program

is running well with organization at the registration table.

SPC Ken Shutters talks to the Letter Stuffers and thanks them for the package he received when stationed in Korea for 1 year.  Ken will be leaving Ft Riley, Kansas as his unit prepared to go to Iraq this month.  We assured him we would be there for them with our Christmas mailing.  He reassured us, his unit will be waiting for our packages.

and away they go to 2,921 of the best of the best!! To the troops that were on our list this time,

it was an honor.. Stay safe.

We are here for you...remember our motto, "Until they come home, we will send them

Letters from Home".  If you want in on our next campaign, we need your updated address,

by early November. 

Our prayers are with you all.