The Headquarters and USO San Diego team up to give back to military families

Morgan M. Hurley | Editor

The USO is known for its many programs that not only support service members when they travel from destinations around the world, but our local USO San Diego does a lot more.

With San Diego having one of the largest populations of military in the nation, the local USO is constantly looking for ways to make things a little easier for those who live here and dedicate so much to our freedoms, especially around the holidays.

For the second year in a row, USO San Diego is joining hands with The Headquarters at Seaport District for a special three-week drive that will allow San Diegans to share the gift of the holidays with local military families.

On Nov. 28 at 6:30 p.m., the USO will launch the effort, with the lighting of the USO “Giving Tree,” a 25 foot, red, white and blue holiday tree in the center of The Headquarters’ courtyard, inside the center of the popular retail destination located at 789 W. Harbor Dr.

Open to the public, this year’s event will include a color guard, the All American Boys’ Chorus from Costa Mesa, USO representatives, senior military officials, Santa photo opportunities, cookies and hot chocolate, and the opportunity to give back to the local military families.

“San Diego stands on the shoulders of the military, not just from a national security standpoint but also from an economic standpoint, and has for a long time,” said Judy Forrester, president and CEO of USO San Diego. “A lot of people think the USO is a government organization or we get government funding, but initially the USO was set up by FDR in 1941 so that the caring public could love and support our military. We are 100 percent dependent on local donations.”

Also unique is what USO San Diego offers the local community.

“USO National is located in Arlington; some [USOs] are direct reports and others are charter centers which is what we are,” Forrester said. “We have an independent board of directors so we’re able to do programming as needed in our community.”

With a brand new 10,000-square-foot airport center gifted by the San Diego Regional Airport Authority during the Terminal Two expansion, USO San Diego already has a lot to keep them busy. Since its opening, they’ve seen 170,000 service members pass through. But its their Downtown center, located at 303 A St., that takes things a step further, with programs that have a primary focus on local active duty families, acting as a safety net for those living far from home.

Much of that programming is dedicated to social service type programs, which Forrester said most other USOs do not get involved with. Programs such as emergency food pantries, Tuesday night dinners, and other family activities to strengthen and support San Diego’s lower income military families during, before or after deployments.

During the holidays, Forrester said USO San Diego has two large programs, not counting the many Thanksgiving dinners they will serve or deliver. One is called their “Santa Store,” where children learn how to choose gifts for their mom and/or dad; and their “Giving Tree,” where families identified as unable to have a holiday due to income can come and pick out gifts for their children.

This is where The Headquarters comes in. With over 1,000 needy military families to help this holiday season, USO San Diego is looking for gifts, gift cards and monetary donations to assist in meeting their goals.

“We collect toys from infant to 18,” Forrester said. “The things that sometimes we lack are for teenage type gifts, so for teenagers, gift cards are great.”

She said any kind of new, unwrapped toy is needed because the USO will categorize them by age so the parents can come in and choose the gifts and then volunteers will wrap them.

Those attending the tree lighting can shop for the giving tree there.

“We’ve got several stores that could help you do that, if you haven’t got something on hand when you get here hopefully you will be inspired and go into Geppetto’s or Urban Beach and get something for these kids,” said Terry Hall, general manager of The Headquarters.

“That’s what the giving tree is all about, supporting our troops,” Forrester said.

For more information, visit theheadquarters.com.

—Morgan M. Hurley can be reached at [email protected].