Marine Alters His Routine … And Takes Home a $10,000 Exchange Shopping Spree

The daily routines for Marines stationed at Camp Kinser have changed because of the impacts of COVID-19 across Okinawa.

For precautionary measures, gyms and other non-mission essential facilities on Camp Kinser have been closed to minimize the spread of the virus and for Master Sgt. Jacob Hayes, a communications chief for the 3rd Supply Battalion, the change in routine worked out to his benefit.

“Usually, during my lunch break I go to the gym and work out.” Hayes said. “Since the gym is closed, and I didn’t have any plans for lunch, I thought I’d go to Subway, which I haven’t been to for a couple of months.”

After ordering a foot-long meatball on Italian herb and two chocolate chip cookies, he walked to the drink station to get his Dr Pepper, when he pulled a tab on his cup to reveal a $10,000 Exchange shopping spree.  Subway’s Sip. Rip. Ultimate Trip sweepstakes is in celebration of the Exchange’s 125th anniversary.

Master Sgt. Jacob Hayes, a communications chief for the 3rd Supply Battalion, shared his $10,000 shopping spree win with his wife Jessica.

“I was in total disbelief when I saw the $10,000 winning ticket,” Hayes said. “I even took the ticket to the Subway manager to see if this was for real, and I think the Subway associates were more excited than I was.”

The first person Hayes told that he won a $10,000 Exchange Shopping Spree was his wife, Jessica.

“I texted her that I won $10,000 Exchange shopping spree and of course, she thought it was a joke,” Hayes said. “She kept saying that she was waiting for another text saying, ‘I’m kidding.’ ”

Hayes’ family took full advantage of the prize and splurged on products that normally wouldn’t fit in their family budget and bring some smiles to their three children’s faces.

“Our big buy is going to be the LG OLED 65-inch TV,” Hayes said. “We would never buy such an item without the help from the Exchange or the win from Subway.”

On Aug. 29, Hayes and his wife met with another $10,000 Exchange shopping spree winner, Shauna Federico and her husband, Jason, to finish their winning transaction before the store’s opening.

Days leading up to their shopping spree, both winners sent Kadena Exchange managers a list of the items from TVs, computers to help with online school, bicycles and more. The Exchange team gathered shopping carts filled with their wish lists items to help save the lucky winners time.

“We are so happy that we could do this for them,” Kadena Exchange Main Store Manager Flor Payton said. “We always try to make shopping as easy as possible for all of our Exchange customers.”