Kadena Exchange and Food Court Continues to Serve the U.S. Navy
During the Fourth of July weekend, the Kadena Exchange team delivered 220 large pizzas and 1,200 wings to the USS Peralta crew.
While the USS Rafael Peralta’s leaders continued to deal with effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, their ultimate responsibility was for the safety of their crew while they quarantined on the White Beach pier over the Fourth of July weekend.
The crew of more than 300 received comfort and relief while restricted as the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s Kadena team provide daily essentials and a little taste of home.
The Kadena Pizza Hut delivered 220 large pizzas and 1,200 wings from WingStreet over four days.
The Exchange earned an official Bravo Zulu shout-out from the USS Peralta’s team. Main Store Manager Flor Payton, Sales and Merchandise Manager Delia Eidson, Food Court Manager Andrew Nims and Food Outlet Manager Tomoko Okuma were highlighted in the congratulatory message.
“With all the COVID-19 protocols in place, we will gladly deliver the taste of home experience to them,” Nims said. “It’s always a pleasure taking care of our service members.”
While the food court took care of their hunger, the main store team filled and delivered more than 100 buy online, pickup in store orders.
“It’s really heartbreaking knowing that our Sailors are stuck in a place and won’t have the liberties to get the supplies they need,” said Nancy Jordan, member of the Kadena Exchange operations squad. “The Exchange’s mission is to supply service members with the daily necessities they need and that’s what the Kadena team did for the Sailors at White Beach.”
In the past couple of months, the Kadena Exchange and food court team have come to perfect the mass delivery process. They have used this procedure two other times as they helped the crews of USS Blue Ridge and USS New Orleans during the pandemic.
“It is truly gratifying to be able to help sailors, especially when you hear the comments of how grateful they are for receiving their orders,” Eidson said. “We are always talking about family serving family, and this really brings it home. My son was in the Navy, which is why helping these Sailors means so much to me personally.”
Inventory Control Associate Mako Price says she’s honored to serve during hard times.
“It always feels great to be able to help others but knowing that the Sailors were on the ship for so long with only the minimal supplies and being able to gather items they needed makes it even more awesome,” she said. “The Exchange once again lives up to its core value of family is serving family.”
