USO of Metropolitan Washington is proud to announce its 2013 Holiday Programs! Help us create moments of joy, happiness and gratitude for military members and their families who need just a little extra help during the upcoming holiday season. The on-going war in Afghanistan, sequestration and government budget issues present unique challenges for our troops and their families.
Turkeys for Troops: USO-Metro needs your help to provide 1,200 local active-duty junior-enlisted (E-5 and below) military families in need with Holiday Food Baskets this year. The holiday baskets will contain canned goods, stuffing and pie makings, corn bread mix and a gift card for a fresh turkey or ham. USO-Metro is working directly with military leaders to identify families in the region that need our help the most. Join us in saying "Thanks!" in the following ways:
Suggested donation is $50.00 to over the cost of the food basket. Make your donation at www.usometro.org/donate and click on Turkeys for Troops from the drop down menu.
Project USO Elf: USO-Metro would like to ask you to help us spread holiday cheer to a local military child through Project USO Elf! This year we are looking for businesses and individuals to sponsor 1,200 children of active-duty junior-enlisted (E5 and below) military families in the region. USO-Metro works directly with military leaders to identify families that need your help the most to make their holidays special.
Through Project USO Elf, military families can register their children to be sponsored by "Elves" (generous corporate and individual donors). Registration for "Elves" (donors) opens on October 29, 2013.
USO-Metro matches each child to an "Elf" who will receive the child's first name, gender, age and the wish list of toys. Elves will personally select items from the child's wish list and drop them off at USO-Metro (also known as Santa's Workshop) for service members to pick up on Wednesday, December 11, at the Project USO Elf Distribution Events!
(Please Note: No personal information is disclosed about the adopted military family. If you register on behalf of your company/organization please be sure to complete all requested business information).
Registration for signing up to be an Elf for a military child is open beginning October 29, 2013.
Here's how you can become a USO Elf:
1. Visit www.usometro.org/holiday to learn more about the program.
2. Press on the link to become an elf. Registration opens October 29 (Tuesday).
3. Starting November 15 (Friday) wish lists will be forwarded within 3-5 business days. Please note, donors registering after November 8 (Friday) are not guaranteed to receive a child's wish list before the Thanksgiving Holiday. We encourage you to register early!
4. Donors are asked to purchase a minimum of 2 gifts from the list totaling $50 or more for each child.
5. Drop your gifts off on December 9 (Monday) from 7:00am - 6:00pm at either Fort Belvoir or Fort Meade. No need to the wrap them - we let the parents do that when they pick them up!
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