13. The USO hugs our kids when the unthinkable happens. Good Grief Camps provide children and teenagers with a safe and supportive atmosphere to participate in activities, learn grief coping skills, establish and identify support systems, and create awareness that they are not alone in the grief of their loved one. In 2014, the USO will support more than 10 TAPS Good Grief Camps and Kids Campouts around the world, Colorado, California, Texas and Washington.
14. USO hasn’t forgotten about the caregivers. Caregivers Conferences provide caregivers (husbands, wives, parents, hospital staff and other family members supporting wounded, ill or injured troops) practical advice and valuable information about available resources. Sessions address post-traumatic stress disorder, caregiver boundaries and intimacy, compassion fatigue, parenting, childhood grief and caregiver resiliency. They’ve supported more than 100 caregivers, healthcare support staff of wounded, ill and injured service men and women and they have only just begun. More are planned this fall.
15. Smile! The USO loves your family in pictures.Through a partnership with RocketLife LLC, families upload up to 60 photos and create free personal soft cover photo books small enough to fit in a uniform’s cargo pocket. These 20-page albums are sent to deployed troops, keeping them connected to their loved ones back home.
16. Strong marriages, strong families. The USO is all about keeping the military family strong. The USO works with Stronger Families to bring the Oxygen Seminar to military couples to help them strengthen their relationship while working on tough issues in a fun and nonthreatening environment. In 2013, 42 Oxygen Seminars were held across the country including 10 seminars for wounded, ill and injured couples. This year, they hope to host 70 events around the country.
17. The USO renovates houses, too! Through the collaboration with the nonprofit organization Renovating Hope, the USO supports recently discharged wounded, ill and injured troops and their families with a renewed sense of hope and confidence by providing basic housing rehabilitation services. The troops are referred directly from military installation commands and are identified as having an immediate need, are physically unable to make the repairs themselves, and/or do not have sufficient income to hire qualified contractors to complete the work. In 2013, RenovatingHope completed 11 home repair projects and one project at a retreat for wounded service members and their families. In 2014, the USO and RenovatingHope will continue to increase program support to assist a larger number of troops and their families.
18. The USO wants you to travel the world! The USO offers planned, professional trips to the most amazing places on earth. Whether you are at home or overseas in Asia or Europe, the USO has professional staff and trip guides that help military families explore the area. The trips are affordable and offered exclusively for military members.
Whew! And this is only a fraction of what USO offers, sponsors and supports. The USO is run purely on donations and volunteers, so next time you see someone wearing a USO shirt working the desk or serving a meal, give them handshake (and a hug) and tell them THANK YOU! They care more about our military families and service members than any other organization in the world.
Thank you, USO.
Want to know more about the USO and how to get involved?
Photo Credit: DVIDSHUB
