Savings, giveaways highlight Month of Military Child

FORT LEE, Va. (Mar. 27, 2017) – Commissaries are observing April, the Month of the Military Child, with giveaways and savings for the entire family.

"At the Defense Commissary Agency, we do all we can to provide our military children and their families with significant savings on groceries and household items," said Tracie Russ, DeCA's sales director. "With events such as ProCamps and our '5-2-1-0' nutritional message, we recognize the unique challenges our youth experience because of the demands of military life."

DeCA's industry partners – vendors, suppliers and brokers – are collaborating with commissaries in April to offer discounts beyond everyday savings. Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs. Also, shoppers can find even more deals on this website, along with the commissary sales flyer, which features discounted items and healthy recipe ideas.

Patrons can also access this website for the following features: 1) the Commissary Rewards Card, which allows patrons to redeem coupons electronically at the commissary checkout. Patrons can pick up a card at their local commissary and register it, where they can log into their account to load coupons on the card before they shop; and 2) DeCA's new Nutrition Guide Program, where patrons can learn more about the color-coded shelf labels that point out items with key nutrient attributes such as low sodium, whole grain, no sugar added, low fat, good source of fiber and organic.

Customers are asked to check their local commissary for details on dates and times for the following promotions:

• Commissaries worldwide will use the Month of the Military Child to educate shoppers to encourage their children about healthier lifestyles. The "5-2-1-0" message remains the call to action: Eat five fruits and vegetables every day; limit recreational screen time to two hours or less daily; get one hour or more of physical activity every day and avoid all drinks with sugar. Your local commissary may have commissary tours highlighting the nutritional value of fresh fruits and vegetables along with recipes, food sampling and giveaways. Check with your local commissary to find out when your child's event takes place.
• Many camps, 30-day dash, three ways to win! Through April 15, almost 100 commissaries worldwide will have a chance to win a football ProCamps for their installation. Winning stateside installations will host a free, two-day football camp for military children, both boys and girls, in first through eighth grade. At these camps, participants will learn from and play with some of their favorite NFL players like Alejandro Villanueva (Pittsburgh Steelers), Andre Roberts (Atlanta Falcons), Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers), Steve Smith, Sr. (formerly of the Baltimore Ravens), Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers), LeGarrette Blount (New England Patriots), among many others. Installation consideration to qualify for a camp is based on their commissary sales of select items such as Tide, Pampers, Bounty, Charmin, Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Crest and Gillette. Customers can vote for their installation at Start Strong, Stay Strong or text their base name to 1-855-980-1999. Standard messaging and data rates apply. Not all carriers support this service.
• Kraft Heinz Company is offering shoppers a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to the NHL Award Ceremony in June 2017 held in Las Vegas, Nevada. In-store displays will announce the NHL "online" sweepstakes as well as offer great recipes. There will also be coupons available for $5 off 5 items on brands such as Oscar Mayer, Kraft, Velveeta and Planters from April 1-23 at all stores.
• Keebler's Annual Hollow Tree promotion features savings on discounted Keebler products April 10-23 at all stores. Customers can get a coupon for free milk with the purchase of four packages of Keebler cookies or Keebler Rite Bite packages. Free cookies and milk samples will be offered at most stores. Look for Ernie and the Keebler elves on Keebler snacks displays.
• Kashi Plus Fresh Pears! Kashi is offering coupon flyers worldwide so can buy two Kashi products and save $2 on fresh pears. Also, recipes will be available and in-store demos will highlight the nutritional value of Kashi and pears.
• Overseas Service Corporation and their partners present the "Fisher House Theme Event," a stateside-only sale to raise awareness and money for The Fisher House Organization. The Fisher House is a "home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and Veterans Affairs medical centers. Look for special prices and coupons supported by a coupon flyer and mass displays in all stateside stores from participating manufacturers.
• The Clorox Company and Bush's Best are teaming up with Kimberly Clark to host the 10th annual "Race for Savings" NASCAR-themed in-store sales event from April 10-23 stateside only. Patrons at participating stores can enter to win a NASCAR Memorial Day Race Package in Charlotte, North Carolina. Two grand prize race packages will be given away nationally. Each prize package includes airfare for two, hotel, race tickets for the Nextel Cup race as well as a $300 VISA cash card for meals and incidentals. Check out special NASCAR/JTG Daugherty Racing displays in the commissaries for details on how to enter.

"As we honor our military children, don't miss out on these opportunities to save even more," Russ said. "For everyone in the family, the commissary is always worth the trip."

To see a video about ProCamps, visit this YouTube page. To see photos related to ProCamps, visit our Flickr page.

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 and make no profit on the sale of merchandise. Authorized patrons save thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to commercial prices when shopping regularly at a commissary. 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.

Media Contact:
Kevin L. Robinson
(804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
kevin.robinson@deca.mi