Holiday swag: Think commissary for those perfect stocking stuffers

FORT LEE, Va. – On your next trip to the commissary, remember you don’t need a stocking hung by the chimney with care to get some very practical stocking stuffer items that people will actually use.

“Giving gifts, large and small, makes the holidays so much fun,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Tomeka N. O’Neal, the Defense Commissary Agency’s senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director. “And the commissary is a perfect place to find stocking stuffers, those small gifts that bring on big smiles.”

Heading the short list of commissary stocking stuffers is the commissary gift card. It’s small, but can buy a lot of groceries. Let’s say that again: A lot of groceries! With the new value-added gift card now being rolled out to commissaries, how much groceries you can buy depends on how much value is put on the card, from $5 to $300. The gift cards also come in denominations of $25 or $50. You can get commissary gift cards at your commissary or online.

Here’s the short list of stocking stuffers:

• Oranges or Clementines – a traditional stocking stuffer, and symbolic of the impact logistical advancements have had on grocery produce, where a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables are available year round. So, if someone doesn’t like oranges, give them the kind of fresh fruit they like.
• Candy – from the seasonal treats such as candy canes to year-round favorites, your commissary has a wide variety of candy that will fit nicely in any stocking.
• Gum, Mints – they’re portable and come in all types of flavors to suit any taste.
• Nuts – all kinds and varieties, including easy-to-carry snack sizes.
• Hand Sanitizer – because it’s the season for caring and sharing, but we all want to avoid sharing germs.
• Batteries – handy for use in those gifts that require them.
• Hot Chocolate, Tea or Coffee – look for the single portion sizes so you can easily enjoy a hot, refreshing beverage.

“The short list is just a way to get customers thinking about all the stocking stuffer gift possibilities they can find down the aisles of their commissary,” O’Neal said. “We wish them all happy holidays and are proud to provide a commissary benefit that suits so many needs.”’

-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. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. 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.