Project Patriot Chairperson Worked With DAR Chapter in Giving to USO
The Project Patriot and Service to Veterans Chairperson, Jo Ann Vasina, worked diligently for six months for her Smith-McMillan Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution Project: Donations to USO Houston. We were invited to give more than thanks to our military by joining forces with patriotic Americans and giving to the USO to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in the America’s military and their families and given these three options: 1. Write a check to USO Houston. Choose the amount: $35 / $50 / $100 /$250 / $500 / $1,000 /$1,500.
2. Provide individually wrapped snacks for the snack breaks for the military in the USO center or for care packages with goodies to send with military leaving for deployment or on their way home.
3. Donate books and stuffed animal sets for the children of military families passing through the USO center.
The culmination of the USO Collections was at the Smith-McMillan Chapter’s annual Christmas Luncheon where an assortment of books with stuffed animals, individually wrapped snacks and goodies were turned in. Members had also sent checks to USO Houston. Jo Ann and her husband, Ken Vacina attend nearly every Chapter meeting even though it is quite a drive from their home in East Bernard, and she is a very dedicated chairperson for Project Patriot and Service to Veterans.
Since 1941, the USO (United Services Organization) has strengthened America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country throughout their service to the nation. In Houston, the USO provides programs and services to more than 200,000 military members and their families per year, who visit the USO Centers at Bush Intercontinental Airport, Hobby Airport, the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in downtown Houston, and Impactful USO programs and events. USO Houston serves the over 10,500 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen and their families who are based in Greater Houston and those passing through Houston. Military guests can receive meals that are individually wrapped and microwaved like frozen hamburgers, breakfast sandwiches, and such. Hot meals can also be catered from airport restaurants. From the moment they enlist at MEPS, throughout their travel in the airports, on bases across the world, and now through their transition into the civilian life following military service and our Pathfinder/USO Transitions Program, the USO is committed to strengthening the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families.
The USO is not funded by the government, but rather is made up of patriots who, for more than eight decades, have risen to stand in the gap between the military and those they protect. The USO is here for those who need us the most: our service members and military families; our wounded, ill and injured and their caregivers; military in transition; and our families of the fallen. Due to the nature of how the National Guard and Reserves deploy, the Houston USO has not had the ability to offer the USO reading program for military parents and children but are always looking for new ways to provide this service. The USO centers offer a variety of options to help promote emotional wellness. For those far from home or about to leave for a length of time it’s about lending a helping hand and a friendly ear.