Palm Springs USO Doubles in Size

Thousands of Marines pass through the Palm Springs International Airport on their way toTwentyninePalms every month.

The localUSO provides a spot for those young men and women to rest before moving on. Marines like Staff Sgt. Jake Reaves stay at USOs all over the world.
“Instead of sitting outside on a bench in the heat, we come in here and get a snack,” Reaves said.
The Palm Springs location just doubled in size – taking over an old flight school on El Cielo Drive.

There are big screen TVs, computers and a pool table. None of it was paid for by taxpayer money.

“It’s 100 percent funded by patriotic Americans and the good people here in Palm Springs,” said the Executive Director of the Greater Los Angeles USO, Bob Kurkjian.

The Palm Springs center relies on 150 active volunteers and donations. They’re in constant need of bottled water, snack foods, and Play Station 3 games for military members and their families to use .

“If I’m deployed somewhere, my wife can come here,” Reaves said. “We get a lot of care packages and stuff by my main thing is – donate to theUSO because my family isNo.1 for me.”

Thousands of military families pass through every year. It costs about $80,000a year to run this home away from home.

Donate at www.palmspringsuso.com.