#FlashbackFriday: Five Years Ago, the COVID Era Began, and the Exchange Showed Its Resiliency

It hardly seems like it was five years ago, but on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. Businesses and organizations worldwide were affected, and the Exchange was no exception.

But the Exchange showed its resiliency and versatility in serving those who serve and their families. These are just a few examples of how Exchange teams provided support.

On April 1, the Exchange received a request for a mobile field Exchange in New York City. The next day, the MFE departed the Waco Distribution Center. After it arrived at Fort Dix, Exchange logistics driver Eddie Hill picked it up and drove it to the city, where it opened at the Army’s field hospital at the Javits Center to support service members and medical personnel on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. (“It was pretty amazing driving the MFE into the city,” Hill said. “People on the street were clapping and waving.”)  The MFE supported the 3^rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command Soldiers, National Guard members and civilian medical personnel. Eight associates from the Fort Hamilton and West Point Exchanges volunteered to run the MFE.

When eight Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools in Korea closed on March 2, DoDEA leaders asked the Exchange to serve students meals despite school building closures. By March 18, Exchange associates had served nearly 1,700 grab-and-go meals to the children. Schools in Europe, Okinawa and Japan came on board March 23, with Exchange associates delivering thousands of meals to children in each area. (Pictured: Sonja Gates, Exchange Service School Meal Program manager for the Kaiserslautern Military Community district, prepares grab-and-go meals for military spouse Jovonna Nelson and her family at Germany’s Ramstein Intermediate School.)

The  Gruenstadt bakery team donated 300 doughnuts to provide a sweet morale boost to 60 Central Distribution Center Germersheim  Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) team members who volunteered to work extended hours one weekend  to meet increased supply demands during the pandemic.

Exchange associates at Fort Bliss served as personal shoppers for 400 Soldiers in quarantine after the troops returned from the Middle East. Soldiers would email or call the Fort Bliss PX with their orders. Associates in the main store would select the items and deliver them personally. Other Exchanges had similar programs.

When families were not allowed to attend Basic Military Training graduation ceremonies at Fort Jackson because of COVID precautions, a program called My Fort Jackson Soldier—developed by the Fort Jackson PX in conjunction with command— kept families connected. The program allowed spouses, family members and friends to purchase Exchange gift cards for their Soldiers while graduations were temporarily closed to outside visitors. Through the program, each Soldier’s unit sent families a link to purchase gift cards, which the Soldier could pick up from the PX after graduation. In return, the Exchange snapped a picture of the Soldier and sent it to loved ones via email.

During the Month of the Military Child in April, the Davis-Monthan Exchange wanted to do something more than virtual activities to honor our youngest heroes. So the team organized a curbside Salute to Military Kids. Associates created more than 500 goodie bags to hand out to military families who drove up to a designated area in the parking lot to receive their swag. The bags contained the 2020 collectible military brat patch, a coupon for a free treat from Burger King, an Air Force “Flat Airman” paper doll and candy. (Pictured: Then-GM Mikel Hunter passes out goodie bags. Hunter is now general manager of the JBSA-Lackland and Randolph AFB Exchanges.)

On what was supposed to be the date of their senior prom, students working at the Spangdahlem Exchange food court and Express Popeyes donned their formal wear and posed for pictures for a small taste of the prom-night experience. They had to wear protective face masks, keep at least 6 feet of physical distance and limit prom-like activities to before and after work and during scheduled breaks. Sporting specially made “Class of Quarantine 2020” face masks, the students cast ballots for prom king and queen, dined on hors d’oeuvres and received on-the-spot awards for continuing to serve those who serve during the pandemic. They even enjoyed a brief, albeit physically distanced, dance.

For more stories of support, visit the Exchange Post archive for March and April 2020 and beyond.

SOURCE: Exchange Post archives