USO’s first Care Package for Women Event

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) stuffs care packages

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Vice President Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, came out to show their support for the USO’s first Care Package for Women Event Wednesday morning in Rayburn.

Volunteers assembled 2,000 care packages for service women, with items such as hair, skin and nail products as well as magazines and snacks.

Stacee Bako, deputy director of interparliamentary affairs for the USO and a former service member, said that she would have loved to have such care packages while she was deployed. “It’s great to see the USO doing something so wonderful for our young ladies in the military,” she said.

Pelosi said that the event reflects the mission of the USO, boosts morale and strengthens bonds. “These gifts are small reminders of life here at home,” she said.

— Report by Kate Ozcypok and photographs by Kate Oczypok and Greg Nash

Members of Congress along with Dr. Jill Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) help to stuff care packages.

Juston Reynolds, Program Manager for the USO and Alexandra Volp, program coordinator for the USO

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Dr. Jill Biden, Sloan Gibson, President and CEO of the USO

A cosmetic bag being sent in the care packages

Lynne Pace, Margaret Gibson and John Marselle of the USO

Alexandra Beitch, Bridget Fallon and Tom Manatos, all from Speaker Pelosi’s office

Lining up to stuff packages

Bina Surgeon, deputy director of protocol of special events for the USO and Stacee Bako, former service member