Angel Spotlight

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Debbye Shepard (Debbye3248)

Debbye Shepard knows the power of healing through service. When her husband passed away suddenly in June 2004, she was devastated. The next six months were extremely difficult, even with the support of her children and grandchildren. One day her sister Patti sent her a link and advised that she “check out this website.” It was her first introduction to Soldiers’ Angels. Debbye immediately applied to adopt a soldier and rejoiced in her renewed sense of purpose. “That is the day that I finally felt as if my heart were coming alive again,” she remembers.

Writing that first letter was a challenge. Debbye doesn’t feel that she is a great writer but was so pleased with the mission of Soldiers’ Angels that she told herself, “I can do it.” She wrote about her home and family and reminded her soldier how proud she was of him. She hadn’t received an email address for him but remembered to include her own. Two weeks later, she did hear from her soldier and that was the beginning of nine months of support and communication. Debbye writes every week and sends two care packages a month. Her support has extended to her soldier’s family as well. “I now send a letter to his son every month talking about his wonderful dad,” she says.

Hearing from a soldier is always rewarding, but Debbye recognizes that this isn’t always the case. She encourages new Angels to keep writing and sending packages even if their soldier does not respond. “If you keep busy and join other teams available, you will get the utmost satisfaction in knowing that you are helping our troops, especially those who do not receive much support,” Debbye advises. Getting involved and helping in every way she can seems to be her specialty. Debbye found that she had a real knack for fundraisers. Her first, a PT Cruiser event, was a huge success. A soldier from a nearby base came in uniform and items were collected to fill over twenty care packages. It was such a positive experience that the PT Owners Club has made Soldiers’ Angels their official charity. They are hosting another big event in November and Debbye will be there once again, gathering support for our troops.

The Green Bean Coffee House in Iraq, which the MWR has officially named for Soldiers’ Angels, owes much of its success to Debbye’s hard work. With her encouragement, Phil Doles, a former Navy man and employee of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in California, has donated thousands of pounds of coffee and tea for our troops’ enjoyment. “Many Angels were responding to Suzelle’s request for help,” Debbye remembers. In spite of being a relatively new Angel, she stepped forward to help, as well.

Stepping forward is something that Debbye does quite well, which is why it comes as no surprise that she was asked to be a Regional Manager in the Angels Coast to Coast program. “I sheepishly agreed, wondering if I could do it, and the next thing I knew I was the Western Regional Director,” Debbye stated. Though initially nervous about this job, Debbye considers herself blessed to be working with so many wonderful people. Her biggest goal now is to encourage Angels to be Regional Managers and Community Team Leaders in their states. Anyone interested in those jobs can email her at: sawesternregion@gmail.com for the job descriptions.

“Each and every one of you plays a part to make Soldiers’ Angels what it is,” Debbye says. “Give as much time as you can give. Don’t ever forget our mission. Keep the passion of it in your heart, for this is what is most gratifying.”