6,500 Service Members Head Home for the Holidays thanks to USO HRCV Airport Centers

Through the Operation I’ll be Home for the Holidays Program, USO centers at Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Richmond International Airport (RIC), and Newport News/Williamsburg Airport (PHF) were able to provide a place of rest, food, and snacks while service members await their flight to head home for Holiday Block Leave. Due to the pandemic, USO airport centers came up with different ways to serve our military while adhering to social distancing guidelines. This included using old airplane carts to distribute snacks and goodies, utilizing more space in the airport to ensure proper distancing, requiring volunteers and service members to wear protective masks unless eating or drinking, and limiting the amount of service members that can enter the center at a time. Because of these guidelines, USO HRCV airport centers safely served about 6,500 military members coming home for the first time since serving.

13 News Now on USO ORF Holiday Block Leave

ABC 8 News on USO RIC Holiday Block Leave

None of this would be possible without the support of generous individuals and organizations.

Special thank you to all who supported our USO HRCV Airport Centers for Operation I’ll Be Home for the Holidays

USO ORF: Dunkin’, Harris Teeter, Mission BBQ, Coca-Cola Consolidated

USO RIC: Papa John’s RVA, James M. Slay Detachment USMC League, Diane and Charlie Long, and Kanawha Women’s Club

USO PHF: Dunkin’, Coca-Cola Consolidated, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Bethel chapter #185, Virginia Beach Shag Club, St. Luke’s Methodist Church, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple Military Ministry

Help us continue to spread Hope for the Holidays here.