Sale, fitness fair reinforce sense of community

By Angela Williams, Army Flier Staff WriterMay 17, 2012

Sale, fitness fair reinforce sense of community
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 17, 2012) -- As some people rushed to the commissary for the first pick of the case lot sale, others stationed themselves near the doors to encourage shoppers to make healthy choices.

Twice a year, the commissary sells cases of products at reduced prices, said Terry Ford, acting store manager. This year's spring event featured 168 different items along with a Fun, Fitness and Family Festival sponsored by the commissary, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

"The DECA case lot sale was an opportunity to spread the word about the Exchange's Operation Be Fit Program: Living Better, Living Healthy," said Susie Antonello, AAFES visual merchandiser manager for Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base and Fort Rucker.

The festival "promoted good health and encouraged the community to be concerned about health," added Apple Olsen, AAFES visual merchandiser. It also showed how the exchange, MWR and the commissary work together to serve the community.

"All these guys have been working together and trying to make it fun," Ford said.

The festival featured a Zumba demonstration, health screenings, child care information, a dunking booth, nutritional information and a Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers fundraiser.

"We scheduled it during the case lot sale so customers could spend time at the participants' booths while they waited to shop at the commissary," Olsen said.

Denece Clayborne, community health nurse and director of health promotion at Lyster Army Health Clinic, sat under a tent near the door and offered blood pressure screening and body composition screening as people entered the commissary. She said the tests gave a "whole picture" of a person's health.

Cpl. Brad Nolte, BOSS president, also staffed a tent near the entrance. He grilled and sold hot dogs and hamburgers to raise funds for single Soldiers' recreational leisure trips and community service projects, he said.

"Creating a partnership between MWR, DECA and the exchange reinforces a sense of community on Fort Rucker," Antonello said, adding that the event encouraged shoppers to visit many of the organizations represented at the festival.

"We look forward to having more events like this in the future," Olsen said.