The United Service Organization threw a stuffing party with Members and staffers Tuesday in order to complete “Operation USO Care Package.” Together, they assembled mailings for servicemen and -women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, bundling such items as pre-paid calling cards, disposable cameras, CDs, magazines, toiletries and sunscreen. Above, Hill staffers and AT&T employees work side-by-side in Room 138 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where all the packing was accomplished.

In order to comply with the Defense Department’s suspension of forwarding mail to “any service member” (to prevent anthrax attacks or something similar), Operation USO Care Package participants wrote personal notes to the recipients. The packages will be delivered during the upcoming holiday season.

The Congressional side of the project was led by four House Members, including the co-chairmen of the USO Congressional Caucus: Reps. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) and Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas). They were joined in the effort by Reps. Tom Davis (R-Va.) and Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).