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Jed Boal Reporting Many Utah soldiers will spend the holidays deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Simple gifts can make a huge difference for the families here at home.
Some military families are going through their second deployment in the past several years. It's a stressful time, so one woman is doing what she can to help us all support the soldiers and their families.
The Community Giving Trees at Fashion Place Mall get a lot of attention. It's not far from where Santa makes his plans for Christmas.
They offer each of us an opportunity to support the Salvation Army, make a contribution to the Utah Food Bank, The Neighborhood House, or help soldiers' families with their gift giving.
Carla Hitz, Operation: We Love Our Soldiers: "I have wanted to find a way to outreach to our military families who are sacrificing everything. To embrace them and let them know that we appreciate the sacrifices they are making."
Carla Hitz's son went into the Army as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne Division. The Operation gathers support all year, and these trees accomplish a specific mission.
Carla Hitz: "This is our opportunity at a time of war, a time of crisis in our nation, for the community to step up and embrace these family members that we will take care of them in the absence of their loved one."
The deployments can take a severe financial toll on families, especially those with members in the guard or reserves, many of whom postpone their higher-paying civilian salaries while they serve their country.
Each ornament or card represents a wife or child of a deployed Utah solider, 300 in all. You can take the card, buy the gift and leave it at the mall customer service drop-off location.
Carla Hitz: "Help make a Christmas, one that will be remembered for a reason other than having a soldier at war this year."
