FORT LEE, Va. –
"Gift" is often the operative word during the holiday season and commissary customers have even more options this year at http://www.commissaries.com.
Whether it's one of about 100 gift baskets and bakery goods available on the new Virtual Commissary, or a commissary gift certificate, "food is always a welcome gift for your military neighbor next door or for a military family you know elsewhere in the world," said Patrick Nixon, director and chief executive officer of the Defense Commissary Agency.
"We're excited about our new Virtual Commissary and the possibilities for the future," said Mr. Nixon. "We are up to more than 100 gift baskets and baked goods available for purchase at commissary prices, for the holidays or for any occasion." Only authorized commissary shoppers can access Virtual Commissary.
Anyone can purchase or donate the "Gift of Groceries," but they can only be spent by authorized shoppers. The commissary gift certificates can be purchased in small denominations at any commissary worldwide or through the link at the commissary Web site. People can purchase gift certificates in a variety of amounts for delivery anywhere in the world.
"Since the commissary benefit saves shoppers an average of 30 percent or more over commercial grocery stores, the commissary certificates offer more buying power to customers," Mr. Nixon said.
Commissary gift certificates are made possible through a business agreement with CertifiChecks Inc. There is a small charge for handling, printing and shipping the certificates.
Donations of gift certificates through CertifiChecks Inc. to worldwide charitable organizations such as the Air Force Aid Society, Fisher House Foundation, Operation Homefront, and the United Service Organizations have added up to more than $200,000. Many installation holiday food programs are using commissary gift certificates as well.
Operation Homefront was a new addition to the "Gift of Groceries" donation program in 2005. "The gift certificates are very handy to help families with emergency needs," said Amy Palmer, executive vice president of operations for Operation Homefront and CinCHouse.com. "Operation Homefront received about 250 donated certificates last year, but our local chapters can certainly put a lot more of them to good use."