Operation Happy Hearts aims to help families of deployed parents in service
November 27, 2019

Photos by Sarah Brown OPERATION HAPPY HEARTS supports include, from left, Ron Carter, Jada Autry, Shari Smith, Patty O'Day, Trisha Van Eck, Karla Hogan, Jason Van Eck and Michelle Marler.
The holiday season is a time for inspiration, and inspiration can come in many forms.
For Trisha Van Eck, it was the Hallmark movie "Operation Christmas," a story about a single mother who did something special for military families on base who were missing their loved ones.
"It was a really heartfelt movie," Van Eck said. "They took gifts to the kids for the parents that were gonna be gone at Christmas."
After Van Eck, who is scheduling secretary for the Sweet Home School District, finished watching the movie, she knew she wanted to do something similar in Sweet Home.
"I told my husband I...
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