Skip to content
RollCall logo

Heard on the Hill

Members, USO Make Care Packages for Hurricane Relief Troops

1,500 packages assembled for National Guard troops deployed to Texas and Florida

Reps. Suzan DelBene of Washington, second from right, and Mike Coffman of Colorado, right, assemble care packages in the Rayburn building Tuesday for members of the National Guard who are assisting in the hurricane cleanup efforts. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Reps. Suzan DelBene of Washington, second from right, and Mike Coffman of Colorado, right, assemble care packages in the Rayburn building Tuesday for members of the National Guard who are assisting in the hurricane cleanup efforts. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
By Alex Gangitano
Posted September 12, 2017 at 2:25pm

The USO came to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to get help from members and staffers in their efforts to send 1,500 care packages to National Guard members deployed to Florida and Texas to assist with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma relief.

Hundreds of staffers and several members pitched in and helped the organization reach that goal within two hours. 

They assembled the packages in nylon USO pouches, which can hook onto military-issued MOLLE system backpacks, so that service members don’t need to make room for them in their backpacks.

WATCH: Members, USO Make Care Packages for Hurricane Relief Troops

[jwp-video n=”1″]

Inside the pouches were KIND bars, almonds, M&M tubes, Extra gum, Crystal Light drink pouches, USO-labeled sanitary wipes, foldable water bottles and applesauce packets. 

The USO sent out a survey to the National Guard asking what service members wanted in their packages and packed them accordingly.

Members spotted putting the packages together included Reps. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Trey Hollingsworth, R-Ind., Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., Rick Larsen, D-Wash., Scott Taylor, R-Va., Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Tim Walz, D-Minn. 

Recent Stories

A Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 plane passes by the Capitol dome in Washington as it comes in for a landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Sunday.

Senate passes spending package in key step to end shutdown

New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas, who is running for Senate, says he doesn’t support the deal to end the partial government shutdown.

Democratic opposition to Senate deal runs party’s ideological gamut

FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.

FDA removes warning for hormone replacement therapy for menopause

A sign on the facade of the Library of Congress is seen in Washington on May 21, 2025. (Wesley Lapointe/for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Copyright Office head asks Supreme Court to keep her in role

New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman is not running for reelection.

New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman won’t seek reelection in 2026

A worker stocks beef fillets in the meat section of a grocery store in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 25. Beef prices have climbed over the past 12 months, according to government data.

White House scrambles for affordability message amid still-high prices