Jo Ann Schultze, Executive Director, and Cheryl Bare, Volunteer Manager, discussed Liberty USO, one of the country’s largest chapters, and their work with our active duty military and their families. Jo Anne, a Reservist herself, described the function of the organization, to bring comfort and a feeling of home to the military, on deployment, or here in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, at the military bases and centers. Programming can include send-offs and welcome homes to military; the 24/7 USO Center at the Philadelphia International Airport which offers food, gun storage., secure internet, sleeping and entertainment facilities, even children’s activities for families traveling on orders; gift boxes at the holidays, and grief counseling to families traveling through on their way to Dover to receive a military dying on deployment. Cheryl, a military spouse discussed the programs offered to children, from backpacks of school supplies, to outings, and story books and recordings of the parent’s reading them aloud. She also talked about the financial services offered, including career counseling and job training programs for spouses who’s frequent moves have disrupted thier employment history. Both spoke of the volunteers who offer thousands of hours to keep the centers open and the events manned. Finally, an invitation to participate in this year’s fundraising virtual Gala and auction, December 7th.
