FORT LEE, Va. – April is celebrated as the Month of the Military Child, and this year’s theme, “Taking Care of Our Military Children,” promotes the variety of support available from the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) to help military children thrive.
“Commissaries are proud to honor our youngest heroes during April, the Month of the Military Child,” said Marine Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Saucedo, the senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director. “Whether it’s special drawing contests or exclusive savings on nutritious products to help their development, we are here for our military children.”
Featured among DeCA’s April events is “The World We Travel” drawing contest for military children grade Pre-K through 12 for the chance to win a prize from Kinder chocolate and a certificate from their local commissary. To enter the contest, the children of authorized commissary patrons must submit their drawing of the favorite places they’ve traveled with their family.
One winner will be chosen per store in the following categories: pre-kinder to 4th grade, 5th to 8th grades and 9th to 12th grades. To enter, visit your local commissary’s Customer Service Desk for an activity sheet with the drawing contest or go to www.commissaries.com/military-child-month and download the pdf. The webpage will be active April 1. Winners will receive five Kinder Joy Eggs each and a certificate. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.
Entries will be accepted at the local Commissary Customer Service Office from April 1- 30. Only one entry per grades and per household. All entries must also include the first and last name of the artist, grade, email and phone number. DeCA employees and their family members are not eligible to participate in the contest.
Commissary customers are encouraged to check commissaries.com for other programs supporting Month of the Military Child. They should also check with their local commissary for more upcoming events.
Other DeCA events related to military children include the following:
• “Thinking Outside the Box (TOTB).” The recipe for March 27 – April 9 is Kid Friendly Quinoa Salad (http://www.commissaries.com/recipes/kid-friendly-quinoa-salad). The link for this recipe will be active March 27. TOTB recipes are dietitian-approved, offering quick and economical solutions for home-cooked meals. Customers can save even more on the items listed in these recipes.
• Savvy Shopper Sales Flyer (https://www.commissaries.com/rewards-and-savings/savings-center/featured-items-sales-flyer). There are “hidden eggs” throughout the special Easter edition of the Savvy Shopper Sales Flyer. To see how many eggs are hidden, look for them on the Month of the Military Child poster once the new sales flyer is posted on March 27.
According to the Defense Department, there are more than 1.6 million military children who face many challenges and unique experiences as a result of their parents’ service. Military families move on average every two to three years, impacting military children through changing schools and support networks.
In Hawaii, authorized patrons have four commissaries they can shop at:
- Hickam
- Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe
- Pearl Harbor (at the NEX)
- Schofield Barracks
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.
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