American Airlines provides support to military service members and their families through partnership with the USO of North Carolina.

American Airlines provides support to military service members and their families through partnership with the USO of North Carolina. As Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continue to grow, American Airlines and the USO of North Carolina remain committed to supporting our service members and their families during these crucial times.

Across our state we are witnessing the shutdown of public schools, the cancellation of events, and restrictions aboard military installations. Our organization stands ready to connect service members to family, home, and country through virtual programming, care package supply drops, and interactive fundraising campaigns.

The USO of North Carolina and American Airlines have worked together on many campaigns throughout the years. American Airlines have organized USO pack builds, provided event space, coordinated deployment homecomings, and more. Relief efforts for our military during Covid-19 is a top priority for both of our organizations and we are honored to have their support.

“American Airlines is tremendously proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the USO of North Carolina in their mission to support the military community across the state,” said Randy Stillinger, Manager of Military and Veterans Initiatives for American Airlines. Stillinger, who’s also a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and based at the Pentagon, said that “it’s a privilege to use the logistical power of American Airlines to do some good for those who serve our nation, even when our company works to recover from the current crisis.”

In our most recent supply drop American Airlines teamed with the USO, along with the Gary Sinise Foundation and the Robert Irvine Foundation as donors for the care packages, working together to provide supplies, assemble, coordinate, and deliver an abundance of essential resources to various quarantine zones across the state of North Carolina. As a safety precaution to fight the spread of this virus, troops returning from deployment are immediately placed into “quarantine zones”. Although most of these zones have the essential items for troops, they are experiencing difficulties gathering resources that are in “high demand”.

“When our Soldiers see the USO of NC sign, they know they are that much closer to home,” said LTC Christopher V. Moro, 82D Airborne Division, Fort Bragg.

Our organization provides service members with not only essential items, but items that go above and beyond to provide them a sense of home and appreciation. USO of NC care packages contain items such as hygiene kits, books, games, snacks, energy drinks, microwavable meals, beef jerky, baked goods, shirts, blankets, magazines, movies, Xbox and PlayStation consoles/games, and personalized “Thank you for your service” notes. Our teams are working diligently to deliver these resources where they are needed.

Our mission at USO of North Carolina is to connect service members to family, home, and country. Doing so, takes employees, volunteers, donors, and partners. Together we work as one, to support Americas heroes and their families.

“Because without dedicated partners like American Airlines, we would not have the resources we need to serve our military and their families” – Jim Whaley, CEO and President USO of NC.

Thank you to all of our partners for your continued support.

All donations large or small help make a difference and allow us to continue our mission. Please follow OPERATION PROTECT THE FORCE and view the many ways you can become a Force Behind the Forces