Virginia Beach-based Atlantic Diving Supply pledges support to USO center at Norfolk during holiday travel season Operation: I’ll be Home for the Holidays provides respite and care for traveling troops
Virginia Beach-based company, Atlantic Diving Supply (ADS), Inc. has pledged to support the men and women of our armed forces this holiday season with donations to the USO Hampton Roads and Central Virginia (USOHRCV) in support of the annual Operation: I’ll be Home for the Holidays.
Each year, base facilities partially close down for the holiday season, and thousands of service members fill area airports awaiting flights to their hometowns. Often times, due to limited resources and transportation schedules, service members will spend upwards of six hours, and occasionally spend the night, at USO welcome centers before boarding their outbound flights.
“We heavily rely on support from donors like ADS this time of the year,” said Paula Moran, President and CEO of the USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia. “The USO does not receive federal funding, and we rely solely on the generosity of individual donors, and sponsors like ADS who are willing to tackle these special projects, like the caring and feeding of troops here on the Homefront.”
“ADS is proud to be able to support our service men and women as they travel home to their families this holiday season. We understand that a few hours can feel like days for someone who has already been away from their loved ones. We want to be a part of making that wait just a little bit easier for them.”
-Jason Wallace, CEO of Atlantic Diving Supply
Atlantic Diving Supply has supported USOHRCV in a number of ways, including sponsoring the annual USO Warrior Week at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and supporting USOHRCV with donations from restaurant partners during ADS' annual Warrior Expo East.
This year, Operation: I’ll be Home for the Holidays is scheduled to begin December 20 and will run through the 22nd at Norfolk International Airport. Each year the USO works with base officials who communicate anticipated dates and numbers, especially for any large troop movements. This year, the USO center at Norfolk international Airport alone is expecting 2,500 troops and families through the center during the month of December, with 500 coming from Army personnel alone.
While the task of providing a home away from home for troops in such large numbers seem daunting, volunteers for the USO are unfazed.
“Volunteers often fight and compete over who gets to be on the schedule during this time of the year. They also come together and help provide snacks and beverages for our centers, too. Often times, they hold collections at their place of work or worship. These extra collections provide a tremendous help.”
-Hannah Hendricks, Volunteer Coordinator for USOHRCV
“We get a lot of treats like candy and snack cakes donated, but what we really need most are healthy options,” said Kevin Hoffer, Director of Center Operations for USOHRCV. “Fresh fruit always goes quick here. Protein bars, beef jerky and other low-sugar items are always in demand.”
Operation: I’ll be Home for the Holidays extends beyond Norfolk International Airport, to include USO centers at Newport News/Williamsburg International airport and Richmond International Airport as well. A round the clock watch is planned for the USO center at RIC airport, which will be open continuously starting Sunday, December 17 at 8 a.m. until Friday, December 22 at 9 p.m. to accommodate an anticipated 4,500 to 5,000 troops from all branches of service.
In addition to support from Atlantic Diving Supply, USOHRCV received additional support for this morale-lifting program from Kroger and Walmart in the form of gift cards. Donations of gift cards or non-perishable goods may always be brought to your local USOHRCV center for distribution to service members and their families traveling for the holiday season and throughout the year. Bulk and wholesale donations can also be accepted, and coordinated through the USOHRCV main office. Please call 757.337.4447 or email ContactUs@USOHRCV.org to make an in-kind donation. Homemade goods cannot be accepted.
