CAMP ATTERBURY — The USO Center at Camp Atterbury is welcoming food donations for active troops who have been recently stationed there.

Roughly 1,500 active National Guard troops from Fort Hood, Fort Campbell and more have been deployed to the base to support and secure Afghan refugees, according to Atterbury’s USO Center Manager Doug Warnecke.

When they’re not on shift, they have free time, but they do not leave the base. The only place they can go is the USO Center, where they have access to Internet, can play Xbox or watch a movie in the theater. They can also eat snacks provided by the USO, Warnecke said.

“Our volume of troop density has gone up greatly,” he said.

“Those young men and women eat like teenagers.”

They are fed three times a day, but are able to eat snacks like hot dogs, chips, cookies and more at the USO Center. Warnecke said the cost adds up.

“We’re not a mess hall, and we have greatly increased our use of those kinds of snacks,” he said. “It’s very expensive. We’re 100 percent donated.”

Word has spread that donations are needed with people sharing donation wish lists on social media, Warnecke said.

Needed items include individually packaged snacks like granola bars and bags of chips. Travel size items like toothbrushes and toothpaste are also needed.

Warnecke said they are looking for anything “that will support the troops.”

Individuals interested in dropping off items can drive them to Camp Atterbury and leave them with the guard at the front gate. The USO donation vehicle is in the side parking lot. People can also leave gift cards for USO shopping purposes to places like Sam’s Club and Kroger.

“It’s worked really well so far. It’s been extremely helpful,” Warnecke said.

“We’re thrilled that people want to support the troops.”

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Phone: 317-292-1849

Email: [email protected]

Website: indiana.uso.org/camp-atterbury

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