A curbside food pick-up service originating from Fort Myer's Patton Hall will begin in September.

The service is called "Food-To-Go" and is the newest Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation program. The concept is to provide convenient, first-class meals right to the patron's car door which will be prepared in the Patton Hall kitchen.

According to Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall MWR Marketing Director Patricia "Ocie" Jacobs Pejcic, the ready-to-eat, Food-To-Go concept and program is the first time an entrée-based curbside service is being offered in the military.

Food-To-Go will begin the day after Labor Day, Sept. 4.

"The whole point is trying to figure out how can we add value to the lives of our customers," said Jacobs Pejcic. "We thought this type of program would help at the end of the day."

The program is concentrating on offering Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall service members, parents who have children at the Cody Child Development Center, Pentagon workers, or base staff members quick ordering, minimal traffic to pick up an order, and quality food.

The process to order food from the Food-To-Go program entails a few steps for any on-the-go military family or civilian customers. The first step is to call the order line at (703) 524-0200.

"(Customers) will call the phone number," Jacobs Pejcic explained. "They will be able to find the menu online (at jbmhh.armymwr.com). Customers pick the meal they want. They can order a meal for one or a family pack, which feeds a family of four. They prepay over the phone with a credit card. They give their car's description and drive to Patton Hall, and someone will put the meal in the back seat and off you go.

"You won't even have to get out of your car," she added. "We're waiting there for you to show up. It will take a customer five minutes (to pick up a meal)."

A single meal will cost $9.75, or the family pack, which feeds a family of four, is priced at $35. Meals include the main entrée, two sides, and bread.

"The menu will be something different every day, but a new menu will come out (online) for the following month," Jacobs Pejcic said about food choice options.

She added vegan and gluten-free selections could be added to the menu in the future.

As of press time, the September menu is still being finalized but entrees will include choices like chicken masala and seafood. Children's dining options will also be available.

Mudassar Syed, manager of Patton Hall, said in a press release "Food-To-Go will be a great benefit to the community and to Family and MWR as a whole."

Syed thinks joint base workers and visitors can use Food-To-Go's dinners as a nutritious and healthy alternative to fast food.

Ordering hours will be Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., and pick up will occur from 3 until 6 p.m.

"I know some people on the installation who may utilize the service," Jacobs Pejcic said. "I'm also interested in helping those at the Pentagon who have to drive that hour and a half to get home. It would be ideal to see a family pick up their children from the CDC and come through Patton Hall and get their food to go. I want this service to be helpful."

Pentagram Staff Writer Jim Dresbach can be reached at jdresbach@dcmilitary.com.