Yolanda Wolfel and Kaitlin Aul decorate paper bags during a Letters From Home work session on Thursday evening. On Sunday volunteers are encouraged to attend the letter stuffing event beginning at 1 p.m. This summer’s campaign “A Salute to Our Troops” will be sent to 3,800 soldiers stationed around the world.

Due to an increase in requests and lack of funding and donations, LFH forced to cutback on number of care packages sent to troops

By Amy Cherry
Daily Press Staff

    Letters From Home volunteers are busy preparing for a weekend of activities including Sunday’s summer campaign letter stuffing event.

Men, women and children of all ages are encouraged to attend the event being held in the Sacred Heart Cafeteria  on Center St. in St. Marys, with registration at 12:30 p.m. and a start time of 1 p.m. Volunteers help assemble bags of supplies which are sent to servicemen and women stationed around the world.

    This summer’s campaign, entitled “A Salute to Our Troops”, will be shipped to 3,800 troops.

    In addition to the regular contents of a snack food, drink mix and personal item, units will also be receiving an extra treat of Girl Scout cookies. Each package will also contain a toothbrush and toothpaste.

    Once again the St. Marys Box Company has donated boxes to ship the packages, while Straub Brewery is also volunteering the use of a company truck to transport the packages.

    On Saturday LFH volunteers are participating  in the Wilcox Sesquicentennial Parade as well.

    Letters From Home Founder Christine Jovenitti noted the organization has seen an increase in the number of names added to their list for care packages.

    “Each year our program has grown in notoriety and it is becoming harder and harder to fill all of the requests,” Jovenitti said.

    This summer’s request of 7,500 bags will not be reached as the organization is lacking both donations and funding.

    “This is the first time since we started LFH that we have had to cut back,” according to Jovenitti. “We have included a letter in their packages explaining this to the troops. Writing that letter came with a heavy heart.”

    Jovenitti added that the poor economy only complicates matters. Those not sent care packages in this campaign were placed on a waiting list for the next campaign taking place on Nov. 23. All donated items must be received by Nov. 1.

    “My concern lies with the Christmas campaign,” she added. “We will need a tremendous amount of help from both volunteers and donors as many of the Pennsylvania National Guard units will be deployed by then as well.”

    Since the organization began in October 2003, LFH has collected over 278,500 cards and letters and has sent care packages to at least 43,245 troops. LFH is a 501c3 non-profit organization and is an all-volunteer effort.

    Among the items that have been donated or requested in the past are; individual drink mixes, individual snacks, phone cards, tuna packets, yo-yo’s, playing cards, beef jerky, gum, fruit snacks, M&M’s, CD’s, dental floss, nuts, candy, granola bards, sock, Nerf balls and soap.

    LFH ships three times a year, in the spring, summer and winter. Volunteers gather on a weekly basis, typically on Tuesday evenings from 6-9 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Activity Center. At the letter stuffing campaigns between 125 to 250 individuals, community groups, families and school groups volunteer in variety of capacities.

    Jovenitti explained that through the numerous e-mails and letters she has received from the troops and their families, they have expressed why LFH is one of their favorite organizations.

    “We’re still hometown, non-commercialized and we’re not selling care packages,” she explained. “Everything is homemade from the paper bags their items arrive in, from the 8-10 greeting cards inside, along with a snack, drink and miscellaneous item.”

    Information about the Letters From Home organization can be found on their website at www.lettersfromhomeprogram.org., by e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling the office at (814) 781-1982.