FORT EUSTIS — USO Fort Eustis hosted a special baby shower for more than 20 active duty military spouses during USO Special Delivery on Oct. 15.
USO Special Delivery presented by Johnson & Johnson is a program designed specifically for expecting parents, whether they are military spouses or service members themselves. The program delivers baby showers to military communities around the globe. Since the program’s launch in 2013 in Okinawa, Japan, it has served more than 13,000 expectant service members and military spouse parents.
The shower is just like any baby shower, complete with traditional baby shower games, food, and gifts. Participants also heard from guest speakers. According to Christine Salak, USO Fort Eustis Center Operations Supervisor, the program brings a touch of home to expectant mothers.
“Often our service members and spouses miss out on celebrating milestones with family and friends that are hundreds of miles away. It is a privilege to be able to host a baby shower at the Fort Eustis USO for our expecting and postpartum servicemembers and spouses. The support from the community on the Peninsula was nothing short of amazing and allowed us to shower the moms with much-needed baby items,” Salak said.
At the 2023 baby shower, the center hosted more than 20 expectant active duty service members, expectant military spouses, and new active duty and military spouse postpartum moms up to six months. The shower also allows expectant and new moms to come together to share tips and insight into military pregnancies.
“Active Duty military moms and spouses are often far from family, friends and traditional support systems that expecting and new moms typically have. The USO Special Delivery not only allows us to celebrate them and their growing families but helps them connect with other expectant and postpartum moms in our military communities,” Salak said.
The Williamsburg community comes together each year to support the shower, often donating gifts and giveaways for the event.
“Organizations like the Williamsburg Chapter DAR have been a longtime supporter of the Fort Eustis USO. When they heard we were doing a USO Special Delivery for our servicemembers and spouses, they reached out to their members and collected baby items that were given out to guests at the shower. There are many organizations and individuals in our community that contributed to the day, both with gifts to shower the moms with and in helping to run the event itself,” Salak said.
Moms who attended the event were equally grateful for the special celebrations.
“I have two babies with a third on the way. We’ll have three kids under three years. Due to COVID and distance from family, I only had a virtual shower. I was so grateful to have an opportunity like this with my military family to finally celebrate together. The military community is the ‘village’ when you hear the phrase ‘it takes a village.’ Thank you everyone who donated time, money and good to make it such a great event,” one mom said.
Even base leadership joined in on the fun.
“The USO Special Delivery event at Joint Base Langley-Eustis is a heartwarming tribute to our unrelenting commitment to supporting parents throughout their parenthood journey. It will showcase the remarkable strength and dedicated support of our military families for each other, highlighting their unwavering support and care,” Col. Frankie C. Cochiaosue, U.S. Army Commander, 733rd Mission Support Group at Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) shared.
For more information on the USO Fort Eustis, visit its website.
