Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Military Photo Contest Winner in August

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Every month MilitaryShoppers.com hosts a military photo contest for our online community.  For us, it’s a way to connect with our followers and help honor the most honorable men and women that serve our nation.  For you, it’s a way to show off your most treasured military moments AND enter for a chance to win $50.

Entering the contest is easy…

  1. Go to the photo contest page here and sign-up or log-in
  2. Upload your photo and give it a title
  3. Click Submit

At the end of each month a new winner is selected at random, notified via email and posted on MilitaryShoppers.com.

This month we are happy to announce the winner of the Military Shoppers August photo contest…

August Photo winner

Herbert Smith

Moody AFB, GA

CONGRATULATIONS, HERBERT!

**Don’t forget to check your email for notifications.**

 

Commissary Sales Make Back to School Easy

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September brings so many exciting things…

One of those things is of course back to school for our little ones. And back to school means back to sports! Once school is in session, we are flooded with things to do. Soccer, fall ball, indoor basketball and of course, homework! Pair that with packing lunch and making dinner every night, and I think it’s safe to say that I am one busy momma. I also think it’s safe to say, I’m not alone. Moms and Dads alike do it all this time of year and one of the things we worry about most is keeping our little ones fed and happy amidst the chaos.

My solution:

DelMonte® Fruit Burst™ Squeezers and Fruit Cups. My kids love them, seriously. Love. them. And so do I! They’re good on the go, easy to pack in a lunchbox, nutritious and make my little ones oh so happy. When it comes to school lunch, it’s a challenge to find healthful snacks that my kids will actually eat. I’m always on the hunt for a snack that won’t come back home in their lunchbox. You know what I’m talking about, the carrot sticks or apple slices that roll around in the half empty lunch box throughout the school day that weren’t touched, but need to be tossed once they’ve made their journey back home. Well with DelMonte® Fruit Cups, I NEVER have to worry about that. They gobble them up like candy, they’re pre-packaged so it’s easy for me and I can rest assured that they are eating a well balanced snack. Right now, they’re a steal at $1.50 for a 4-pack.

Why wouldn’t you scoop them up for school lunch?

Not to mention, DelMonte® Fruit Burst® Squeezers are the perfect snack to tote along to soccer for an after game snack. I will be stocking up on these tasty treats at only $1.50/4-pack and a few 10-packs of   Hi-C® Fruit Drink (Powerbuy for only $1.39/10-pack) for when it’s my turn to bring game day snacks for the whole team. With 10 thirsty and hungry little mouths running off the field, these snacks and fruit drinks fit the budget and the bill! After all that fun at soccer, we come home on Sunday and it’s time to relax and enjoy the game, the football game that is. In our house, we love football (side note: if you do too, you don’t want to miss this contest for an autographed football!) and my little guys can’t get enough of it, so for game day we let loose for a bit, put out a bag of Lay’s® Classic Potato Chips (on sale for $2) and of course, TOSTITOS® Tortilla Chips (only $2.98 thru September) and snack on! The kids love ‘em and the adults do too! For my husband, I put out his favorite buffalo chicken dip. It’s a winning combo every time.

And if you’re a dog lover like I am, you know that September is also a great time for playing outside with your pet.

But in order to give your pet the endurance he needs for all that outdoor play time, trust me when I say, you’ve got to feed him Purina® Pro Plan® pet food. They’re not lying when they say it’s Nutrition That Performs™. My golden retriever Lola loves Purina® Pro Plan® Sport™ Active Dog Food that’s on sale for only $18.43 at the commissary. Not only can I say she loves to eat it, but it gives her the energy she needs to keep up with my 9 and 5 year old boys. Yes boys! She actually wears them out! Not even school, soccer or baseball can do that. Only Nutrition That Performs™ can do that! Thank you, Purina® Pro Plan®!

With all of these savings what are you waiting for? Make the back to school and back to sports transition easy.  Take advantage of these and the rest of the Commissary Specials on sale at the Commissary now.

And don’t forget to maximize your savings with printable coupons and your Commissary Rewards Card.

Want savings and coupons delivered direct to your inbox?

Sign up for free.

Case Lot Sales at the Commissary!

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Stock up on products and SAVINGS at DeCA’s customer appreciation case lot sale!

What is a case lot sale?

Case lot sales at the commissary are sales that offer deep discounts on large quantities of various products.  Basically, you buy in bulk and save BIG.  When shopping the case lot sales, don’t forget to stock up on products with a longer shelf life, non-perishables and household products! For those items that you think might not last long enough for your family to use entirely, consider shopping with a fellow milspouse or military friend and splitting the cost.  It’s a great way to save and ensure that nothing goes to waste.

What will you find at your commissaries case lot sale?

There’s no definitive answer pertaining to exactly what your commissary will offer.  So go and find out!

You can find a list of the categories offered here.

“We choose the items from the list that we think will sell well at our stores,” said Mark Crump, the store manager at the Little Creek commissary. “These are not items that have been sitting in our warehouse.”

Will it be crowded?

Umm, absolutely.  DeCA’s customer appreciation case lot sales are an optimal time for saving, and in the military we know that every penny counts, so definitely expect a crowd.

Oh, and to really maximize your savings don’t forget your coupons and your Commissary Rewards Card!

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*Per DeCA:

Always check with your commissary for date changes or cancellations before you go. Case lot sales may be cancelled due to weather or other events beyond our control.

Commissaries are not responsible for early sell out of items during case lot sales due to high customer volume or limited product availability.

Commissaries React to Blue Bell Creameries Recall

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According to a press release on April 20, 2015: “Blue Bell Ice Cream of Brenham, Texas, is voluntarily recalling all of its products currently on the market made at all of its facilities including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and frozen snacks because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.”

Consequently, DeCA has notified all of its stores with the updated information pertaining to this recall.  Per Commissaries.com, if at any point a commissary has a recalled product in its inventory, the product is immediately removed from the commissary shelves.

If you think you may have purchased a product affected by this recall, you are advised not to consume the product.

For more information pertaining to this recall and your commissary, visit Commissaries.com.

To find out more about this voluntary recall and read their press release, visit Blue Bell Creameries website.

Comforts From Home Project Supports Troops and Comforts Spouses

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10 years, 8 deployments, 2 kids and dinnertime is still the hardest time for my husband and I when he is deployed.

For him on deployment, sitting in a galley full of people makes him miss home even more. “I eat fast, then go back to my room,” he said when I asked him what life was like for him out there. “When we’re on a big base, there is a lot to do. The remote bases are stocked by stuff that families send and what we leave behind for the next guy.”

The USO and Marie Callender’s must have known about this need, because they teamed up to create the #ComfortsFromHome Project to make sure that every service member gets the comforts of home while deployed – no matter where they are.

The Comforts From Home Project

Screen Shot 2014-09-11 at 12.11.31 PMThe #ComfortsFromHome Project donates money directly to the USO2GO program.  Through their frozen meals they are ensuring that service members get electronics, sports gear, books, games, and more while also giving us spouses at home a super deserved cooking and cleaning break.

Service members at remote bases get to experience the warmth of feelings, flavors, and favorites from home, and families back home get a night off of cooking.

Marie Callender’s understands both sides of a deployment…they know about the servicemember’s intense longing for home and the need to stay connected. They understand the family left behind waiting – whether a spouse and children, parents, relatives and friends.

Here ‘s how it works:

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  1. Buy a Marie Callender’s frozen dinner with a code.
  2. Enter that code on this website (You can enter up to five codes per day!)
  3. Marie Callender’s donates to USO2GO*

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Comfort for troops. Time and peace of mind for families. All with the purchase of a little box.

View a list of participating products, how to use the code, and more at Comforts From Home Project.

Hero’s Welcome TV Special

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To further their support of the military, Marie Callender’s is proud to sponsor an exciting television special with everyone’s favorite military supporter Gary Sinise, creator of the Gary Sinise Foundation. Gary will be hosting a one-hour TV special on Veterans Day, along with Robert Irvine from Restaurant: Impossible, and Genevieve Gorder from HGTV’s Design Star.

The TV special, airing on November 11, 2014 on HGTV, Food Network, Cooking Channel, Travel Channel, DIY Network, and Great American Country will celebrate one service member’s return to the comforts of his own home (cue the tears!).

Mark your calendars and set your DVRs for this tear jerker and watch how Marie Callender’s, the USO, and the “army of experts from food, home, and travel celebrate the comforts of home as only Marie Callender’s can.”

Thank you Marie Callender’s for creating a home away from home, and making life back-home a little easier. Please like and follow Marie Callender’s on Facebook and Twitter and send a warm thank you to them for warming our hearts.

For more information about the Comforts From Home Project, including qualifying products, and where to find the codes visit the official website.

Don’t forget to share this with your friends and family via Facebook and Twitter by clicking the share buttons below!

 

 

Military Savings

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When the military community needs a good military discount they look to MilitaryShoppers.com. Military Shoppers knows that the military community deserves additional military savings for their sacrifice to their country and its citizens. Military savings are important to the military community and Military Shoppers makes it their priority to deliver military savings to the military community. With military benefits being revoked each year, the military community relies heavily on military savings and military discounts. When it comes to grocery items, the military community turns to the commissary for special military savings. The commissary sells products to authorized military patrons at cost plus 5% and accepts applicable commissary and manufacturer coupons, providing the military community additional military savings. When shopping the commissary, commissary shoppers can expect to save an average of 30% on their purchases compared to commercial prices. The commissary also offers customer appreciation case lot sales throughout the year. These are special sales that offer discounts on large quantities of product. The military savings at case lot sales are unmatched. In addition to the already low pricing at the commissary, Military Shoppers’ commissary specials flyer presents commissary patrons with additional military savings on selected items available only in the commissary for a limited time.   The extra special low commissary prices can be found in the commissary specials flyer. The commissary specials flyer with additional military savings can be seen online, on facebook, on pinterest or delivered directly to your inbox by signing up. Sign up for free and take advantage of the military savings available today! Don’t forget your commissary coupons and Commissary Rewards Card for additional military savings. Commissary coupons are accepted and allow military shoppers to maximize military savings. If you haven’t started following Military Shoppers yet, do it now for insight on all of your military savings needs.

Commissary Rewards Card

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Utilizing your commissary benefit is an easy and quick way to save money on groceries each month.  There is however, another way to compound those commissary savings by utilizing an awesome program now available at your local commissary.  The commissary rewards card provides additional means for extra savings at the commissary on base.  Saving money on your groceries has never been easier for military personnel and their families.

The commissary rewards card is a free, easy way to maximize commissary savings and use coupons at commissaries worldwide.  Starting your commissary rewards card savings is easy!

Here’s how:

  1. Visit your local commissary and pick up your free commissary rewards card.
  2. Register your card and use the commissary rewards login to load coupons for your favorite products on to your commissary rewards card online.
  3. Once the coupons are loaded onto your commissary rewards card, start shopping!  Scan your commissary rewards card at checkout and the savings has begun!
Commissary Rewards Card

Commissary Rewards Card

Don’t forget…

Commissary rewards card coupons are convenient, however like regular coupons, they have stipulations that must be followed for redemption, as well as expiration dates.

The commissary rewards card may include additional features in the future. Follow MilitaryShoppers.com for any new updates and information pertaining to the commissary rewards card.

We just love the savings offered at your local commissary and you will too, especially when you employ your Commissary Rewards Card and printable coupons available now.

Pick up your Commissary Rewards Card, register and login to start your Commissary savings today!

40 Stores to Offer Carts for Special-Needs Children

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commissary
NEWS RELEASE
Defense Commissary Agency
Public Affairs
1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800
Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105 DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105
FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248
www.commissaries.com

Release Number: 33-14
Date: June 19, 2014
Contact: Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist
Tel.: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
E-mail: kevin.robinson@deca.mil

40 stores to offer carts for special-needs children
By Cherie Huntington,
DeCA public affairs specialist

FORT LEE, Va. – Forty commissaries across the United States will soon offer a grocery cart designed specifically for special-needs children.
Called “Caroline’s Cart™,” it enables special-needs children – or even adults under 250 pounds – to safely and easily accompany parents or caretakers on commissary shopping trips. The cart provides the option of using one basket instead of pushing both a wheelchair or stroller and a grocery cart when shopping.
“Many retailers and malls are now offering these special-needs carts,” said Randy Eller, DeCA’s deputy director of logistics. “Placing these carts into our commissaries will provide a valuable service to many military families at these installations.”
Eller said some commissaries have already received the carts. “Once we roll out the first 40 and gauge response, we’ll see if we should deploy more to the field,” he said.
Slightly larger than a traditional shopping cart, the special-needs carts have handles that swing away to allow easy access to the seat, and a platform below the seat serves as a footrest. With the occupant facing the cart operator, the seat contains a five-point adjustable harness for support. The cart’s two 8-inch wheels and four casters provide maneuverability and stability, and brakes help ensure safety while loading or unloading the passenger.
The carts will be located at the front of the store, or customers can ask a manager for assistance. Carts will be available only on a first-come, first-served basis. It will be the patron’s responsibility to place the individual in the cart.
Caroline’s Cart availability at commissaries, by state:
Alabama: Redstone Arsenal
California: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Base San Diego, Vandenberg Air Force Base
Colorado: Peterson Air Force Base
D.C.: Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
Florida: Naval Station Mayport, Patrick Air Force Base
Georgia: Fort Benning, Fort Gordon
Hawaii: Pearl Harbor Commissary at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Illinois: Naval Station Great Lakes
Kansas: Fort Leavenworth, McConnell Air Force Base
Kentucky: Fort Knox
Maryland: Fort Meade
Missouri: Richards-Gebaur
Montana: Malmstrom Air Force Base
Nevada: Nellis Air Force Base
New Hampshire: Naval Shipyard Portsmouth
New Mexico: Cannon Air Force Base
New York: Fort Hamilton
North Carolina: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Fort Bragg South
Ohio: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Oklahoma: Tinker Air Force Base
South Carolina: Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Tennessee: Naval Support Activity Memphis
Texas: Fort Bliss, Fort Hood – Clear Creek
Virginia: Fort Belvoir, Joint Base Langley-Eustis (both commissaries), Naval Air Station Oceana, Marine Corps Base Quantico
Washington: Fairchild Air Force Base, McChord Commissary at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Read more about Caroline’s Cart at http://www.carolinescart.com.
-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. By shopping regularly in the commissary, patrons save an average of 30 percent or more on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Stay Connected to Your Commissary Benefit
COMMISSARIES.COM: Visit www.commissaries.com to learn more about the Defense Commissary Agency: check out the latest news, find a store near you, see what’s on sale, create a shopping list, learn of food and product recalls, scan employment opportunities, read frequently asked questions, submit a customer comment form online through DeCA’s Your Action Line and more.

COMMISSARY CONNECTION: Stay connected with the latest news about your most valued benefit, Hot Links to additional savings, shopping sprees, contests, commissary promotions, events and more, go to www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm and subscribe to the Commissary Connection newsletter.

FACEBOOK: Visit www.facebook.com/YourCommissary, DeCA’s Facebook page, where you can post comments and share news, photos and videos.

YOUTUBE: To see DeCA’s latest videos, visit www.youtube.com/DefenseCommissary.

TWITTER: To see DeCA’s latest “tweets,” visit www.twitter.com/YourCommissary.

FLICKR: To see DeCA’s latest photographs, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/.

MILPAGES: To see news about DeCA on this forum for members of the U.S. military, their families and supporters, visit www.milpages.com/pages/defense-commissary-agency/.

Giving ‘Gift of Groceries’? Think Commissary Gift Cards

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commissary

NEWS RELEASE
Defense Commissary Agency
Public Affairs
1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800
Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105 DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105
FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248
www.commissaries.com

Release Number: 29-14

Date: June 12, 2014
Contact: Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist
Tel.: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
E-mail: kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Giving ‘gift of groceries’? Think Commissary Gift Cards

By Jessica Rouse,
DeCA public affairs specialist

NOTE: To see artwork related to this news release, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/14219917350/.

FORT LEE, Va. – No matter the occasion, Commissary Gift Cards are always available to help family members, friends and organizations give the gift of groceries.

“Our gift cards are versatile,” said Randy Chandler, the Defense Commissary Agency’s sales director. “They can help a young family in need, offer wholesome eating options to a young service member or make a terrific prize for organizations holding a contest.”

The cards, which come in dominations of $25 and $50, can be purchased by anyone at any commissary worldwide or online. However, only an authorized patron can redeem them.

Here are some quick facts about the Commissary Gift Card:
* The cards are available at all commissaries worldwide – on a rack at full-service, front-end registers – as well as through the DeCA website, http://www.commissaries.com.
* The cards expire five years from the date of purchase.
* Online orders incur a handling fee. These fees are not assessed to in-store orders.
* There is no limit to the number of gift cards that a purchaser can buy. However, DeCA officials recommend organizations and activities consider purchasing online if they need $500 or more in gift cards.
* Commissary Gift Cards can be shipped anywhere in the United States. Outside the United States, gift cards can be shipped to APO, FPO or DPO addresses.
* For customer service questions, call the toll-free phone number, 877-988-4438, which also allows the user to check the card balance.

To date, the commissaries have sold almost 440,000 gift cards.

“Offering groceries at great prices with multiple ways to pay are more of the ways we are making it easier for our service members and their families to enjoy the commissary benefit they have earned,” Chandler said.
-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. By shopping regularly in the commissary, patrons save an average of 30 percent or more on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Kevin L. Robinson
Public affairs specialist (media relations) Defense Commissary Agency Fort Lee VA
Email: kevin.robinson@deca.mil
Phone: (804) 734-8000 ext. 4-8773

Website: www.commissaries.com
Commissary Connection: www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/YourCommissary
YouTube: www.youtube.com/DefenseCommissary
Twitter: www.twitter.com/YourCommissary
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/ Milpages:www.milpages.com/pages/defense-commissary-agency/

 

Prepare For The Unexpected

By

commissaryNEWS RELEASE
Defense Commissary Agency
Public Affairs
1300 E Avenue, Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800
Tel: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 8-6105 DSN: 687-8000, Ext. 8-6105
FAX: (804) 734-8248 DSN: 687-8248
www.commissaries.com

Release Number: 26-14
Date: May 29, 2014
Contact: Kevin L. Robinson, public affairs specialist
Tel.: (804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
E-mail: kevin.robinson@deca.mil

Prepare for the unexpected
Commissary patrons can save on their emergency supplies
By Kevin L. Robinson,
DeCA public affairs specialist

NOTE: To see a graphic related to emergency preparedness, go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/sets/72157644895618094/.

 

FORT LEE, Va. – On May 20, 2013, Moore, Okla., home to 50,000 people on the outskirts of Oklahoma City, was struck by an F5 scale tornado, with winds in excess of 200 mph. Fourteen years earlier, Moore had also been the destination of an epic F5 tornado May 3, 1999, this one going down in history clocking winds of 318 mph – highest ever recorded.

Natural and manmade disasters can strike anywhere at any time. And with the start of the U.S. Atlantic hurricane season June 1, the Defense Commissary Agency is reminding its patrons that they can save money by visiting their local commissary for the items they need in their survival package.

“You should always be prepared for power outages, disruption of water or the possibility of an evacuation connected with a natural storm or manmade crisis,” said Randy Chandler, DeCA’s director of sales. “We want our patrons to know that the commissary has partnered with its industry suppliers to offer savings for their emergency supplies.”

Since April 1, an assortment of items has been reduced in price as part of DeCA’s severe weather preparedness promotional package that runs until Oct. 31. The package includes the following items: beef jerky and other assorted meat snacks, soup and chili mixes, canned goods, powdered milk, cereals, batteries, airtight bags, weather-ready flashlights, tape (all-weather, heavy duty shipper and duct), first-aid kits, lighters, matches, lanterns, candles and hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes Specific promotional items may vary from store to store.

This preparedness emphasis parallels the peak activity for both tornadoes and hurricanes in the United States. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, covering the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Tornado season runs from April to July.

In 2013, there were 261 weather-related disasters worldwide according to the Climate Central website, www.climatecentral.org, of which 41 events each resulted in more than $1 billion in damage. The No. 1 weather event was flooding.

On May 22, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a less-active season with a 70 percent chance for about eight to 13 named storms, three to six of which could become hurricanes; and one to two are expected to be major hurricanes. However, the NOAA’s predictions cannot pinpoint a hurricane’s potential landfall – if at all – weeks or months in advance, according to their website: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2014/20140522_hurricaneoutlook_atlantic.html.

“Unfortunately, disasters rarely come with an exact schedule of when and where they will occur,” Chandler said. “So, it’s prudent to be prepared for any emergency.”

Emergency preparedness officials suggest having a disaster supply kit that includes the following items:

  • Water – at least one gallon daily, per person (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
  • Nonperishable foods – canned meats, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, raisins, cereal, crackers, cookies, energy bars, granola, peanut butter, and foods for infants and the elderly (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)
  • Paper goods – writing paper, paper plates, paper towels and toilet paper
  • Cooking items – pots, pans, baking sheet, cooking utensils, charcoal, a grill and a manual can opener
  • First-aid kit – including bandages, medicines and prescription drugs
  • Cleaning materials – bleach, sanitizing spray, and hand and laundry soap
  • Specialty foods – diet and low-calorie foods and drinks
  • Toiletries – personal hygiene items and moisture wipes
  • Pet care items – food, water, muzzle, leash, carrier, medications, medical records, and identification and immunization tags
  • Lighting accessories – flashlight, batteries, candles and matches
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
  • Duct tape, scissors
  • Multipurpose tool
  • Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates and insurance policies)
  • Cell phone with chargers
  • Family and emergency contact information
  • Extra cash
  • Emergency blanket
  • Maps of the area
  • Blankets or sleeping bags

For more information about preparing for emergencies, visit the following websites: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php; the Centers for Disease Control, http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/supplies.asp; the Red Cross, http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster; and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

-DeCA-

 About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. By shopping regularly in the commissary, patrons save an average of 30 percent or more on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Stay Connected to Your Commissary Benefit

COMMISSARIES.COM: Visit www.commissaries.com to learn more about the Defense Commissary Agency: check out the latest news, find a store near you, see what’s on sale, create a shopping list, learn of food and product recalls, scan employment opportunities, read frequently asked questions, submit a customer comment form online through DeCA’s Your Action Line and more.

COMMISSARY CONNECTION: Stay connected with the latest news about your most valued benefit, Hot Links to additional savings, shopping sprees, contests, commissary promotions, events and more, go to www.commissaries.com/subscribe.cfm and subscribe to the Commissary Connection newsletter.

FACEBOOK: Visit www.facebook.com/YourCommissary, DeCA’s Facebook page, where you can post comments and share news, photos and videos.

YOUTUBE: To see DeCA’s latest videos, visit www.youtube.com/DefenseCommissary.

TWITTER: To see DeCA’s latest “tweets,” visit www.twitter.com/YourCommissary.

FLICKR: To see DeCA’s latest photographs, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/commissary/.

MILPAGES: To see news about DeCA on this forum for members of the U.S. military, their families and supporters, visit www.milpages.com/pages/defense-commissary-agency/.