USO Indiana and Freedom Mortgage partner to provide school supplies with ‘Rucksacks to Backpacks’

USO Indiana welcomed 275 service members and military families on Wednesday, July 28th, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Navy Operational Support Center in Indianapolis for a school supply distribution event. Over 200 backpacks were distributed at the event and 160 additional backpacks were distributed to the Army Reserves.

Thanks to the generous support received from Freedom Mortgage, military families were able to stop by, pick up backpacks and school supplies, and enjoy a back-to-school celebration complete with pizza, Kona Ice, drinks, games, DJ, giveaways, and special appearances from the Indy 500 Princesses, Boomer from the Indiana Pacers, and Freddy Fever.

The goal for this year’s ‘Rucksacks to Backpacks’ program is to deliver school supplies to 3,500 children of active-duty military, National Guard members, and Reservists at nine USO locations across the country, including USO Indiana.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Freedom Mortgage gathered school supplies through collection bins placed throughout the company’s offices across the country. Last year, the company switched to a virtual campaign in which employees purchased backpacks and school supplies online and shipped them directly to individual USO centers. Backpacks were then assembled and distributed at drive-through events at each location. This year, Freedom Mortgage made the campaign even easier by creating an online fundraiser that enables USO centers to purchase the exact items that children in their communities need.

USO Indiana is grateful for the generous support provided by Freedom Mortgage all the USO supporters that make the Rucksacks to Backpacks program possible.