KMC Exchange Team Steps Up to Welcome Afghan Guests

The Kaiserslautern Military Community Exchange team is doing what it can to make Afghan guests feel at home.

KMC Exchange associates are working around-the-clock to provide necessities and comforts to the guests and service members supporting Operation Allies Refuge. Under the Department of Homeland Security-led operation, military installations worldwide are hosting about 50,000 at-risk Afghan civilians and their families who have supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan within the past 20 years.

Kaiserlautern Military Community Exchange General Manager Jennifer Jordan, right, with Jana Hein, Nanu-Nana Concession employee (left); and Julia Richart, Nanu-Nana regional district manager. Nanu-Nana has donated 2,000 baby and children’s socks and dozens of plush toys in support of Operation Allies Refuge.

KMC Exchange General Manager Jennifer Jordan and her teammates pivoted to support installation partners with little preparation time.

“We had about 24 hours of notice that Ramstein would be welcoming these Afghan guests,” Jordan said. “From the moment we heard the news, every single KMC Exchange associate has come together to support the troops and guests. Every facility has been affected, and associates have responded with the passionate dedication that sets the Exchange apart.”

The KMC team opened a mobile field Exchange on Aug. 29 to serve military members supporting the operation, ensuring they have easy access to hygiene products, snacks and other necessities.

“The service members have shown a great deal of appreciation for the Exchange’s presence during this operation,” Jordan said. “The KMC Exchange team is honored to help the mission.”

The Exchange has extended the operating hours of the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Express near Ramstein Air Base to accommodate the various work schedules of the military community supporting the guests. With more than 2,400 new arrivals staying at the small Army post, the Express is ensuring hot meals, healthy snacks and other grab-and-go items are more available to the service members there.

Working closely with the Red Cross has proven critical to the Exchange’s success, providing numerous items to aid the organization and fill the gap in an area with few retail options.

Associates across the installation have been stepping up. When the Red Cross put out a call for donations, KMC Exchange mall vendors responded, donating merchandise.

Among the vendors who donated so far:

• Nanu-Nana has donated 2,000 baby and children’s socks and dozens of plush toys.
• The KMC Toy Store donated 300 items, including coloring books and pencils, stuffed animals, balls, hula hoops and more.
• Josef Seibel shoe store provided children’s and adult shoes.
• The Exchange Mobile Center has donated 12,000 masks.

In addition to items donated, many vendors are also donating their time, including Angelika Hobbs, a LifeStyle Furniture concessionaire. Hobbs has worked with the Red Cross and local government officials to coordinate donation efforts from off-base businesses.

Associates across the enterprise have been supporting Operation Allies Refuge. Teammates in the Merchandising directorate hurried to engage existing local suppliers and locate new suppliers for critical items such as baby bottles and formula, towels, bedding, shower shoes, hygiene items and more. At KMC, many Exchange shoppers are also buying items to donate to the guests, so MD is working to restock items that are going quickly at KMC Exchange stores.

With little to no notice, Logistics associates are assisting in moving products from suppliers in Southwest Asia to KMC while managing the tracking and transportation of merchandise from other Exchange installations in Germany to KMC. LG has already expedited 330 pallets of water and 49 pallets of merchandise to KMC, with dozens currently in transit. Associates at the Germersheim DC are on standby to process emergency requests for equipment or items in support Operation Allies Refuge at KMC.

“It’s a fluid situation that’s often changing,” said Brian Guest, Exchange Europe fleet manager. “But we’re doing all we can to expedite and prioritize anything related to Operation Allies Refuge.”

For Exchange associates, it’s all part of their dedication to supporting the military.

“The Exchange’s ‘family serving family’ motto extends to all of those in our community,” Jordan said. “The extraordinary work of KMC Exchange associates during this time is truly the Exchange mission in action.”