Military Supporters Update: October 2023

YOUR USO AT WORK ISSUE 117 OCTOBER 2023  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏    ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏

DONATE NOW »     YOUR USO AT WORK Issue 117 / October 2023         With colder days approaching and times of uncertainty ongoing, it's more important than ever to remember and honor our brave service members. As temperatures drop and threats persist, the USO is working tirelessly to support our heroes as they sacrifice precious time with their families and the warmth and comforts of home.   USO FRONT LINES       USO Supports Service Members Amid Israel-Hamas War Developments As the Israel-Hamas war continues, the Department of Defense has deployed additional service members and other assets to the Middle East in response to this conflict. At this dark and uncertain moment, American troops need your support more than ever. And right now, the USO is working around the clock to ship care packages to support ships,  fulfilling an influx of requests for USO2GO kits and providing support for families where troops have been deployed.   GET INSPIRED         Dogs Enlisted in Navy Effort to Improve Sailors' Mental Health Naval Air Station Sigonella's USO was recently featured in "Stars and Stripes" for its participation in the USO Canine Program! Here's a snippet: "[Dogs] make you feel like you're not alone," said a Petty Officer 3rd Class who left her dog back in the U.S. but acquired two while living in Italy. "They give you something to look forward to." "Petting or playing with a dog relieves stress, eases homesickness, or distracts people from problems," said Margaret McCullough, the USO Sigonella center manager. The power of animals for therapy is "undeniable when you see those reactions," said McCullough.   GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT     USO Entertainment: MVP with Bryan Cranston Bryan Cranston, an American actor, producer and director, participated in the USO's MVP series in September, connecting live with groups in Africa and RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. The MVP event also had live service member participation from 42 military locations in 6 overseas countries and 18 U.S. states. Learn more about USO Military Virtual Programming »         BY THE NUMBERS 248 USO celebrates the Navy's 248th birthday! USO Centers around the world celebrated the momentous occasion with special birthday cupcakes. We’re still collecting signatures on our official Navy birthday card and haven't reached our goal yet. Don't miss this chance to honor and celebrate our Navy heroes for this important milestone. Click here to send your best wishes to our heroes!         CORPORATE PARTNERS   USO Partner Highlight: Flowers Foods Well-known for their Wonder Bread and Tastykake products, Flowers Foods has pledged to donate up to $2,700,000 to the USO through 2024 with their Deploy the Joy campaign. Flowers Foods encourages its customers to join the company in support of the USO while boosting awareness of the USO by placing the USO logo on Wonder Bread and Tastykake packaging and featuring the USO on retail displays nationwide. Click here to read more about how Flowers Foods is helping our troops and their families.   WAYS TO GET INVOLVED   You can help service members draw strength from connecting to the things they love and fight for while earning an income from your gift. Charitable gift annuities (CGAs) offer a secure, fixed payment stream for yourself and/or a loved one for your lifetime(s). You will also receive tax benefits and the satisfaction of creating a lasting legacy through the USO. Learn more. » Join the USO Home Team with a monthly gift today! The USO is there for our troops and their families through every step of their military journey, from the moment they enlist, through every deployment and as they transition back to civilian life. This is largely due to the support of the Home Team — a passionate community of military supporters whose monthly gifts power our work. Join the Home Team today! »       From all of us at the USO, thank you for being a dedicated and proud military supporter!

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