COMBAT COVID-19: KEEP OUR MILITARY STRONG
As the nation’s leading organization to serve the men and women in the military, and their families, the USO remains in close alignment with military commands and goes where no other nonprofit goes to support the emergent needs of our Armed Forces. With the scale and scope of the USO, we are best positioned to mobilize and help service members and military families being impacted by the coronavirus outbreak – at home and around the world.
THE NEED FOR SUPPORT
During this unprecedented time of social distancing, quarantines, and isolation, the USO’s mission of strengthening service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country is more critical than ever before. COVID-19 is a global health emergency impacting everyone. For our troops and military families, this pandemic is creating additional hardships for individuals who are already sacrificing while they continue to serve the county and carry out missions around the world.
ISOLATION: Thousands of troops and families restricted to base or ships and some are under precautionary quarantine or in isolation
DEPLOYMENT: National Guardsmen deployed to support civil authorities in areas being hit hardest by the coronavirus. Thousands are being called up
PCS SEASON: Travel restrictions enforced just as Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moving season begins with hundreds of families now separated from their items already shipped overseas
FAMILY: Military spouses, who often find themselves managing as a single parent, are now also dealing with childcare closures and homeschooling. Many are balancing this new normal while still working and some have lost their jobs
BOB HOPE USO RESPONSE
As the COVID-19 outbreak is quickly evolving, the USO has pivoted resources across the county in an approach that helps care for military members and their families, while also aiding in reducing the spread of the virus. A few examples of Bob Hope USO’s support in action include:
Bob Hope USO has provided toiletries and other support to hundreds of those who cannot leave their quarters – including units of Marines just returning from deployment.
Hundreds of National Guardsmen are supporting local food banks, and Bob Hope USO is taking care of them through deliveries of needed toiletries, snack and beverage items and morale boosting
Bob Hope USO is delivering a touch of home to those families by providing items like blankets, pillows, towels and more as well as board games and ways to help the families feel more connected
As restrictions change and families are at home, we are adapting traditional programs for virtual delivery, including story-time for families, fun classes for kids, health and wellness for spouses and service members, and live engagements with celebrities and athletes.
The USNS Mercy deployed in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts. The ship is docked at the Port of Los Angeles and Bob Hope USO is continually providing support to it’s crew through morale boosting supplies and other essential needs.
WE NEED THEM. THEY NEED US. WE NEED YOU. JOIN US.
To ensure the USO keeps pace with emerging needs and opportunities as the Coronavirus evolves, we have launched the Combat COVID-19 Initiative to raise $3 Million in new resources to support needs described above and innovations in mission delivery in a rapidly shifting landscape of need.
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For more information please contact Bob Hope USO at bobhopeinfo@uso.org
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