Fort Leonard Wood, Whiteman AFB Exchanges Spread Holiday Cheer to Heroes

Two Central Region Exchanges found creative ways to brighten the holidays for Warfighters and their families.

For the second year in a row, the Fort Leonard Wood Exchange honored Soldiers during the holidays by loading 300 Exchange gift cards purchased by the USO of Missouri.

The local USO Club bought the $10 gift cards to hand out at special events on post for Soldiers who couldn’t go home for the holidays.

Using three registers, associates loaded gift cards for the USO in less than two hours.

Sales and Merchandise Manager Jocelyn Rosario emphasized how the Fort Leonard Wood Exchange team consistently goes the extra mile for our Nation’s heroes.

“The holidays can be tough, especially when you can’t spend them with loved ones,” Rosario said. “We want to do whatever we can to show how much our Soldiers mean to us.”

Holiday spirit was in full force at Whiteman AFB as well. The Whiteman Express spread cheer by providing refreshments to the 509^th Security Forces Squadron, many of whom worked extra hours over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

With support of vendors, the Whiteman Express supplied Master Sgt. Melissa Villalobos, squadron flight chief, with more than 200 bags of Frito-Lay chips; nearly 100 Jacks Links meat sticks; Krispy Kreme doughnuts; Deli Express muffins; Godiva truffles; and Rockstar energy drinks.

“We love to give back to our military family,” said Whiteman Express Manager Emma-Jayne Cariglio said. “One of our vendors who was stationed here at Whiteman from 1985-1990 said that he was happy to give because he himself is a Veteran.”