USO North Carolina, Lowe's Celebrates Grand Re-Opening of USO Center on Fort Liberty

The USO at Fort Liberty and Lowe’s recently celebrated the grand re-opening ceremony on January 10, 2024, marking the official opening of the newly renovated USO center on Fort Liberty.

The renovation of the USO center on Fort Liberty was one of 100 community projects in 2023 that made up Lowe’s Hometowns. Launched in 2022, Lowe’s Hometowns is the company’s largest-ever impact program, with a five-year, $100 million commitment from Lowe’s to rebuild and revitalize community spaces nationwide.

Thanks to Lowe’s Hometowns, the USO center on Fort Liberty that provides services and support to nearly 7,000 service members and their families each month, now has a refreshed and welcoming reception area, new carpet and flooring, updated kitchen appliances, new countertops, a brand-new buffet area, to include USO Gaming area and computer lab for military families and single soldiers to enjoy together all year round.

“We are grateful the tremendous support of Lowe’s over the years, and this renovation project truly highlights Lowe’s commitment to our military community and the USO’s longstanding support of the people who serve,” said Kelli Willoughby, Executive Director, USO Norh Carolina. “These renovations will enhance the feeling of home already felt by the thousands of service members and their families who visit our USO center on Fort Liberty each month.”

“The majority of our Lower’s associates who volunteered to help renovate this center also served in the military themselves, so it really hit home for them, and it made it really important for them to be a part of this project,” said Kevin Cole, Lowe’s District Manager.

With over 250 centers world-wide, service members and their families refer to their local USO centers to be their “home away from home,” turning to the USO first for support and connection to home and to each other throughout the duration of their service.

“Many soldiers say our USO center is a lifesaver for them, a place where they can come to, get away from work and relax,” said Jimmy Covas, Center Operations Supervisor at Fort Liberty. “This project was a personal mission and goal for me, and I am honored to continue to give back and support our soldiers and their families.”

The newly renovated USO center will serve as a home away from home, where service members and their families can go for special programs, offering a warm, welcoming, alcohol-free lounge; internet connectivity for guests; healthy drinks and snacks; and various forms of entertainment such as board games, video games, TV, books, and more.

This USO center will also provide additional family programming during special observances and holidays throughout the year, to include USO Fort Liberty’s popular USO Special Delivery events for expecting and new parents, which includes games, lunch, gifts and valuable and insightful resources shared by local installation partners.

Since 1941, the USO has been the nation’s leading organization to serve the men and women in the U.S. military, and their families, throughout their time in uniform. From the moment they join, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, the USO is always by their side.

The USO staff and volunteers at USO Fort Liberty is honored to fulfill the USO’s mission of strengthening the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families, especially the 50,000 soldiers and their families who call Fort Liberty and the surrounding communities home.