From Rucksacks to Backpacks, USO Helps Jacksonville, Florida, Military Kids Start the School Year Strong

With backpacks zipped, notebooks ready, and smiles beaming, hundreds of military children in the Jacksonville, Fla., area are stepping into the school year with confidence thanks to the USO’s unwavering support and the generosity of Freedom Mortgage’s annual Rucksacks to Backpacks campaign.

Across three distribution events at Naval Station Mayport and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, USO Jacksonville volunteers and staff ensured that more than 790 total service members and their families received the supplies their children needed to start the year prepared.

“We’re excited to share that our Rucksacks to Backpacks events were a huge success,” said Chantille Wooten, USO Jacksonville Center Operations Specialist. “Seeing the joy on the kids’ faces as they picked out their supplies reminds us why we do what we do. This is about more than pencils and paper — it’s about making sure military kids know their community is here for them.”

For some families, the program meant lifting a significant weight from their shoulders.

“It’s awesome to not have to worry about getting a backpack for the kids,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Terrill Jeanjacques of Naval Station Mayport.

“I have a large family. This helps us so very much. Thank you all for your help,” added Petty Officer 1st Class Maurice Ross, also stationed at Mayport.

Sgt. Chris Rodriguez, from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, appreciated more than just the supplies, “Thank you to USO for all the fun activity and services they do for us.”

The Rucksacks to Backpacks program, now in its 13th year, is a partnership between the USO and Freedom Mortgage, one of the nation’s largest VA and FHA lenders. Through fundraising in July, Freedom Mortgage employees, customers, and supporters helped provide thousands of military children across the country with the tools they need for academic success.

“This program is a proud tradition at Freedom Mortgage, as it strengthens our ongoing commitment to those who serve, along with their families,” Stanley C. Middleman, Freedom Mortgage president and CEO, said in a previous press release. “We’re thankful to the USO for giving us this opportunity to give back each year.”

“We are grateful to Freedom Mortgage for their support and partnership with the USO,” Ben Leslie, USO chief development officer, said in a previous press release. “This program brings great joy to military kids and families across the United States and helps them get ready for a new school year.”

Since its inception, Freedom Mortgage has donated more than 35,000 backpacks and 70,000 school supply items, supporting USO events in states including Florida, Arizona, California, and Pennsylvania.

“Thanks to Freedom Mortgage and our local community, we can help ease the transition back to school for so many military families,” Wooten said. “It’s one more way we can remind them that we’re here, standing beside them, every step of the way.”