Cooperative Living August 2023 - 17

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Making
Their Day
Story courtesy of Statepoint Content
Five ways to honor and
support U.S. service members
U. S.
military service
members are ready
to be called upon
at any time to protect the country,
and you may have wondered how to
express gratitude for their sacrifices.
" Many service members are
overseas supporting NATO due to
war in Ukraine. These deployments
should be a reminder to all Americans
of the importance of expressing our
gratitude to the men and women in
the military who sacrifice so much
for us, " says Christopher Plamp,
United Service Organizations senior
vice president of Operations, Programs,
and Entertainment and an Air Force
veteran.
With its long history of keeping
America's military service members
connected to family, home and country,
the USO is providing five ideas for
ow to honor and support serviceice
how to honor and support service
ow to honor
and support
●
The simplest way to support service
The si
SAY " THANK YOU "
ort
pl
se
ice
members is to thank them for their
service. According to the Blue Star
Families 2022 Military Family Lifestyle
Survey, only one-third of active-duty
families feel a sense of belonging to
their local civilian community.
You can also send a message of
support and encouragement to service
members through the USO's website.
" Acknowledging the immense challenges
of military life can have a real, positive
impact. The simple act of thanks can
show military members that their work
is valued and appreciated, " says Plamp.
co-opliving.com
se
members and their families.
●
Sending c
SEND A CARE PACKAGE
ith items
Sending care packages with items
such as snacks and hygiene products lets
service members know that the American
people are thinking of them, even from
thousands of miles away. The USO Care
Package program simplifies the process
of sending military care packages, which
can be complicated. You can support
this program by making a monetary
donation to the USO. Another option
is to check out the USO Wishbook,
where you can select a symbolic gift,
such as a USO care package, from a
catalog to be sent to service members.
In 2022, the USO delivered 200,000
ofthese care p
In
the US
packages globallly.
y.
●
SUPPORT MILITARY SPOUSES
Deploymployments are challenging for
nging for
military spouses. Aside from being
separated from their loved ones, military
spouses must also shoulder household
responsibilities alone. For military
families with children, this can be even
more difficult. Offer to cook a family
dinner or pick up groceries. Even simply
out to
reaching out to ask how they are doing
how
●
the
can make a dike difference.
VOLUNTEER
There are many challenging, but
Ther are
ng but
rewarding, volunteer opportunities that
serve the men and women in uniform,
including with the USO, where you will
see the impact of your support firsthand.
Many USO locations need volunteers
who can facilitate programs and events
and help ensure the military community
esou ces and support theythe
ha th
has the resources and support they
has the resources
need to carry
Sho
Show you
and support
need to carry out their missions.ons
DONATE
●
how your support through the
your support through the
pp
ug the
annual USO T-shirt campaign, which
raises funds for the USO's mobile and
center operations, programs and
entertainment, transition services and
more. The campaign also builds awareness
and understanding of military families. 
For more, visit uso.org/tshirt.
August 2023 ● Cooperative Living ●
15
are doing
PHOTO COURTESY USO
http://www.uso.org/tshirt http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living August 2023
