Gum, sunscreen, snacks and toothpaste may seem basic, but for our fighting men and women, the little things count most of all.

Several times each month, more than a hundred dedicated USO of Metropolitan Washington volunteers gather at a warehouse in Virginia to assemble Operation USO Care Packages (OUCP). To date, OUCP has distributed more than 1.8 million care packages.

The USO of Metropolitan Washington is very pleased to partner with USO, Inc. and USO centers and chartered centers across the country to distribute these packages at special "send-off celebrations," and to those returning to overseas locations from rest and recuperation (R&R). In addition, the OUCP office takes care package requests from deployed units. Every effort is made to fulfill these requests on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Each care package contains, at a minimum, sunscreen, snacks, playing cards, toiletries and other items requested by service members. Donations help purchase and ship these items. The program is supported and recognized by the White House and the Department of Defense, due to our strict adherence to security requirements.

Recently, at a ceremony on Capitol Hill, USO care packages designed specifically for female troops were introduced.

The continuation of this important program depends on people like you.

For more information, please submit through the form below.