The USO Northwest opened its new Camp Lewis Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord March 12.

"The USO stands out to me as the organization that makes the biggest, most meaningful impact on the lives of our military members and families," said Christine Vu, the center's manager.

The center is located just inside the America's Credit Union building located at 2201 South 12th Street on JBLM Main.

Beginning as a volunteer in 2012, Vu was hired in 2014 to manage a USO at the Portland International Airport.

The center features a United Through Reading room, where parents and children can record a reading to be sent to a deployed loved one. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson
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"Opening this new center here at JBLM is fun and exciting," she said.

USO Northwest began its efforts to build the center in 2016. Numerous groups, businesses, foundations and individuals donated time and money to fund the project. Their efforts are clearly noticeable upon entering the center.

"One of the first things people will notice when they walk in through the front door is the row upon row of La-Z-Boy lounge chair recliners," Vu said. "USO Camp Lewis is a comfortable, relaxing place to lounge and grab snacks."

Well lighted and spacious, the center features a large and nicely apportioned kitchen, computer stations, large-screen televisions, DSN phones, event and sports tickets, a United Through Reading room and donated snack foods.

The Camp Lewis Center expects to serve about 50,000 servicemembers and their families during its first year of operation and more than 100,000 during its second year.

"When I started volunteering, I was involved with many different organizations trying to figure out which cause I would be most passionate about," said Vu. "The USO and this new center, the Camp Lewis Center, stand out to me as the best examples of volunteerism and servicing those who serve us."

The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit northwest.uso.org/camplewiscenter or email Vu at lewismanager@usonw.org.