USO Vicenza Volunteer of the Quarter - Em Oquendo

Please join the USO Vicenza in congratulating our Volunteer of the Quarter, Paula Villalobos. Em comes from Houston, TX and graduated from Sam Houston State University with a major in Dance and minors in Special Education and secondary education. Emily is the spouse of an active duty service member and is currently living Italy with her husband and their dog Aisling BC and her kitten Figaro. When Em is not volunteering she enjoys her hobbies like dance, photography, choreography, modeling, graphic design, web design, art, helping children, and of course, volunteering! When asked why she volunteers Em stated, “I love volunteering at the USO because it was introduced to me on my very first day here in Italy by my husband. The USO soon became like a second home and family to me with the plus of being given the opportunity to help others. Being a teacher, I love working with kids so one of my favorite events is Teddy Bear Club and the special events we hold. I liked helping with the weekly events such as troop lunch which allowed me to meet new people, volunteer with friends, and give back to the community. The USO also gives me the opportunity to inform patrons about different topics such as special events both in and outside of the center. It’s a great way to reach out to the community, meet new people/see friendly faces, and give back to our troops and their families through different experiences”. Lately Em has stepped up to help with our virtual programming by do some online dance tutorials and assisting her husband in creating some culinary tutorial videos. Thank you, Em! You have been and continue to be a tremendous help to the USO Vicenza in meeting our mission and we truly appreciate you!

Interested in joining our team of amazing volunteers? Come by the center, message us on Facebook, or email our Center Operations Manager, Nick Jenkins, at njenkins@uso.org.