Fort McCoy Exchange, commissary adjust quickly to COVID-19 restrictions

Despite rapidly changing conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fort McCoy Exchange and Fort McCoy Commissary have been quickly adjusting and adopting new measures too safely provide Fort McCoy families with necessary supplies.

“Our main emphasis is providing the commissary benefit in a safe and secure environment for our customers and employees alike,” said Cindy Perry, commissary officer with the Fort McCoy Commissary. “We are continually adapting to the latest health and safety guidelines, such as the requirement for everyone to wear face coverings (while on the installation).”

The commissary has implemented a number of measures to help keep both employees and customers safe. These include:

* a 100 percent ID card check at the entrance of the commissary. (Children under 10 do not need to bring an ID.)

* limiting the number of patrons in the store at one time to 20. The commissary recommends that families limit how many family members shop in the store to help out with this measure. Leave children at home, if possible.

* sanitizing shopping carts before and after each customer’s use.

* cleaning and sanitizing equipment and surfaces at least six times each day. When possible, employees will sanitize heavily used surfaces, such as card readers, after each patron.

* a “no touching” ID policy. Employees will ask customers to scan their own IDs or allow employees to use a hand scanner after verifying an ID.

* temporarily banning reusable bags to limit potential contamination.

* acrylic shields at full-service registers to provide a barrier between cashiers and customers.

* implementing purchase quantity limitations on bathroom tissue, facial tissue, antibacterial sprays, wipes, and hand sanitizers to ensure more families have access to essential items. Special orders are also limited, and bulk meat orders are suspended.

* requiring face masks for both employees and patrons, in accordance with DOD guidelines.

“We are hypervigilant because we are only here to support our military family community, and their safety comes first,” Perry said. “In addition, because a great number of our patrons are retirees, we are aware they may be at higher risk.”

Perry said it’s important to be courteous and keep safety in mind during these trying times.

“Protect yourselves and others,” she said. “(The commissary) will endeavor to persevere in providing our patrons with what they need.”

This commissary is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It does not have early bird shopping hours anymore; those ended in 2019.

The Fort McCoy Exchange has enacted many of the same safeguards, including increasing cleaning standards and installing shields at each register.

“Our No. 1 concern is the safety of our customer and employees. We are cleaning carts, register counters, and more several times throughout the day,” said Donald Basil, general manager of the Fort McCoy Exchange. “To further protect our customers, plastic panels have been hung at the registers. Cashiers and food employees are wearing gloves for all transactions. We have placed tape of the floor to encourage social distancing at the registers.”

The Exchange has reduced hours but remains open. Customers are encouraged to pay with credit or debit cards in order to reduce the use of cash and limit the possibility of germs spreading. In addition, the food court is carry-out only until further notice.

“Exchange operations are mission essential. We will remain operational during these difficult times to continue to provide service,” said Donald Basil, general manager of the Fort McCoy Exchange. “We ask customers to please practice social distancing while shopping.”

Shoppers can find current hours for the Exchanges by going to the Exchange’s COVID-19 page, https://publicaffairs-sme.com/Community/covid19; scrolling down to the “Information for Your Location” header on the right side of the screen; and clicking “Store Hours by Location.”

In order to make sure Fort McCoy employees have access to supplies they need, Garrison Commander Col. Hui Chae Kim granted temporary access to the commissary and Exchange (excluding tobacco, alcohol, and uniform purchases) to additional Fort McCoy community members. This group includes mission-essential DOD civilian employees and contractors; non-DOD federal, state, and local government officials who are providing emergency, medical, or mission-critical services on Fort McCoy; and anyone residing on the installation, including in DOD permanent change of station, temporary duty, and morale, welfare, and recreation lodging.

Anyone who uses these services must bring a valid ID, such as a common access card, and a copy of the memorandum authorizing them to use the commissary.

Information on additional affected services and hours at Fort McCoy are updated frequently at the Fort McCoy Facebook page. Visit www.facebook.com/ftmccoy/ and look for the pinned post, “Updated regularly: COVID-19 Impacted/Canceled Activities at Fort McCoy.”