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Oklahoma City Thunder and Military Personnel Team up to Make Care Packages for Deployed Troops

Table of Contents

  1. The HUGs Project Event
  2. NBA and DoD Partnership
  3. Impact on Deployed Troops
  4. Oklahoma City Community Spirit

By 2nd Lt. Leanna Litsch, Oklahoma National Guard Public Affairs

The Oklahoma City Thunder and military members from Oklahoma teamed up Saturday for the HUGs Project to make care packages for deployed troops, as part of the NBA and Department of Defense Commitment to Service. More than 55 military members and 20 Thunder personnel volunteered for the event, packaging more than 400 boxes.

The HUGs Project Event

The event brought together professional athletes and active-duty service members for a shared purpose: ensuring that Oklahoma’s deployed men and women knew their community was thinking of them. Volunteers assembled care packages containing hygiene items, snacks, and personal care supplies — items that can make a significant difference in the daily lives of soldiers and airmen stationed far from home.

The atmosphere was one of camaraderie and shared purpose. For Thunder players and staff, the event offered a meaningful way to express appreciation for military service beyond a simple game-day ceremony. For the service members involved, working alongside well-known athletes on a project that would directly benefit their fellow troops was both gratifying and motivating.

NBA and DoD Partnership

The NBA’s Commitment to Service program formalizes the league’s relationship with the Department of Defense, creating structured opportunities for teams to engage with military communities in meaningful ways. Oklahoma City is an ideal location for such a partnership — the city is home to Tinker Air Force Base and hosts a substantial Oklahoma National Guard presence, making the connection between the Thunder and the military community a natural one.

This type of partnership reflects a broader national conversation about how institutions — sports leagues, corporations, civic organizations — can take concrete action to support service members rather than limiting their appreciation to symbolic gestures. The 400-plus boxes assembled in a single afternoon represent real, tangible support for real people in difficult conditions.

Impact on Deployed Troops

Care packages are more than supplies — they are a form of communication. When a service member opens a box and finds items carefully assembled by volunteers back home, it sends a message that goes beyond words: your community remembers you, appreciates you, and is working to make your service a little more comfortable.

Military personnel frequently cite receiving care packages as one of the most morale-boosting experiences of a deployment. In environments where personal autonomy is limited and the comforts of home are distant, even small luxuries — a favorite snack, a good book, a handwritten note — can provide significant psychological relief.

The HUGs Project volunteer event produced 400 packages that would eventually reach deployed personnel and provide exactly that kind of uplift.

Oklahoma City Community Spirit

The collaboration between the Thunder and the Oklahoma National Guard reflects something deeply characteristic of Oklahoma City: a community that takes seriously its responsibility to the people who serve. Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of military service per capita in the nation, and that culture of service extends into the civic and business life of the city.

When professional athletes roll up their sleeves alongside soldiers and airmen to pack boxes for deployed troops, it sends a clear message about community values. For the families of deployed service members watching from home, events like this one are a reminder that their loved ones are not forgotten — and that Oklahoma, as a community, stands behind them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HUGs Project?

The HUGs Project (Helping Unite our Global Services) is a care package program that brings together civilian volunteers and military personnel to assemble and send supply boxes to troops deployed overseas. Each box typically contains personal care items, snacks, entertainment materials, and letters of support from community members.

The project is designed to boost morale among deployed service members by reminding them that their community at home is thinking of them and actively working to improve their day-to-day quality of life in difficult conditions.

How many people participated in the Oklahoma City event?

More than 55 military members and 20 Oklahoma City Thunder personnel volunteered for the event, working side by side to assemble and package care boxes for deployed troops. In total, the volunteers packaged more than 400 boxes — a significant logistical effort completed in a single volunteer session.

The event was part of the NBA's Commitment to Service program, a league-wide initiative that partners NBA teams with Department of Defense programs to engage athletes and team staff in military support activities.

Why did the Oklahoma City Thunder participate in this initiative?

Oklahoma City has a strong and historic connection to the U.S. military. The region is home to Tinker Air Force Base, one of the nation's largest air logistics centers, as well as a substantial Oklahoma National Guard presence. The Thunder organization has consistently embraced its role as a community institution with responsibilities beyond basketball.

For the Thunder players and staff who participated, the care package event offered a tangible way to express gratitude for military service. Athletes with public profiles can amplify the message of military appreciation in ways that reach beyond the base community into the broader sports-watching public.

What is the NBA's Commitment to Service program?

The NBA's Commitment to Service is a formal partnership between the National Basketball Association and the Department of Defense. Through this program, NBA teams are encouraged to participate in military appreciation events, honor service members at games, and organize volunteer activities that benefit military families and deployed personnel.

The partnership reflects the NBA's broader social responsibility agenda and the military's interest in engaging popular culture institutions to maintain public support for service members. Events like the care package assembly put athletes and soldiers in direct, collaborative contact — building mutual respect and community bonds.

What goes into a typical military care package?

Military care packages typically contain a mix of practical items and comfort goods that are difficult or impossible to obtain in a deployed environment. Common contents include toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, razors), non-perishable snack foods (jerky, crackers, candy, coffee), entertainment items (books, magazines, playing cards, crossword puzzles), and personal communication supplies.

Care packages often also include handwritten letters or cards from schoolchildren, community groups, or individual supporters. These personal touches are frequently cited by service members as among the most meaningful parts of receiving a care package — tangible proof that people at home remember and appreciate their sacrifice.

How can civilians in Oklahoma support deployed service members?

There are several ways Oklahoma civilians can support service members deployed overseas. Participating in or organizing care package drives is one of the most direct methods. Organizations like Operation Home Front, Any Soldier, and local Guard family support groups regularly coordinate these efforts and can connect volunteers with verified deployment addresses.

Other avenues include attending military appreciation events, volunteering with veteran service organizations, writing letters through official programs, and supporting businesses that hire veterans or offer veteran discounts. The HUGs Project event with the Thunder demonstrated that even a few hours of organized volunteer effort can produce hundreds of packages that make a real difference in morale.