For many, that early morning snack to get the day started just has to be a donut, and that's not any different for the servicemembers on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

That's where a little community effort and donations to the USO Northwest come in.

"The USO on McChord Field, every morning before 0500, gets donuts for our servicemembers to have for free, along with everything else they serve there," said Chief of Public Affairs, 62D AW of McChord Field, MSgt. Todd Wivell.  

Andrew Oczkewicz, from the USO Northwest, recently visited these kind "donut" ladies, who provide those donuts, to present them all with certificates of appreciation.

It may become easy to imagine hundreds of servicemembers with a little more pep in their steps thanks to the more than 20 dozen free donuts being brought into the USO Northwest Shali Center, located at 1421 Union Ave. on JBLM, every week.

"I purchase twenty-one dozen a week and many more for deployments and special events," said USO Northwest Shali Center Manager, Andrew Oczkewicz.  "It's just another service we provide every day!"

These donuts are delivered daily, and have been for years by three very kind and caring ladies.

Who are these ladies? They are Angela Standbridge, Dea Wing and Brandy Darby, and they all work in the bakery at Walmart in Lacey (where the donuts are purchased).

The USO may be paying for the donuts specifically, but these donuts come from the community.

Every box of morning-energizing donuts come from donations to the USO and are transported daily from the kindness of Angela, Dea and Brandy's hearts.

"At the USO Shali Center, our one hundred twenty volunteers strive to provide the most extensive menu of any of the one hundred sixty USO Centers worldwide," said Oczkewicz.  "This is just one aspect of the menu that lifts their spirits."

The USO prides on keeping their Shali Center stocked.

"We try to have enough donuts, at all times," Oczkewicz added.  "These ladies have never missed a deadline in the many years that they have served our servicemembers."

Just like in the military, when an emergency situation which calls for donuts occurs, these three ladies are ready to serve.

"I can call in a special request at late notice (such as the deployments we served on Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine's Day) and they will personalize the donuts for the specific event, said Oczkewicz.  "We cherish their efforts!"

If interested in volunteering or donating to the USO Northwest, please contact Andrew Oczkewicz at 360.789.2972 or shalimanager@usonw.org.