{"id":9685,"date":"2023-10-18T18:36:22","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T18:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=9685"},"modified":"2023-10-18T19:00:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-18T19:00:28","slug":"army-air-force-exchange-service-nourishes-warfighters-children-through-school-meals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/10\/18\/army-air-force-exchange-service-nourishes-warfighters-children-through-school-meals\/","title":{"rendered":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service Nourishes Warfighters\u2019 Children Through School Meals"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEMBACH, Germany <\/strong>\u2013 For nearly 70 years, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has brought healthy, affordable meals to Warfighters\u2019 children to sustain them throughout their busy school day.<\/p>\n

The Exchange\u2019s school meal program provided more than 4 million meals at Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Europe and the Pacific<\/a> in 2022. The program has been in place since 1955 and greatly contributes to the Quality of Life for military families.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Exchange\u2019s school meal program leads the way in caring for military children,\u201d said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, the Exchange\u2019s senior enlisted advisor. \u201cMeals are provided to students at- or below-cost, and families may apply for free or reduced-price meals to help them get through their day with focus and energy and to give their parents peace of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

David Groat, Landstuhl Elementary School teacher, praised the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cParents know their children have access to high-quality food prepared daily,\u201d Groat said. \u201cExchange personnel become part of the school family and they build relationships with the students. The associates become familiar with students\u2019 dietary needs and even restrictions. They are always looking out for the children.\u201d<\/p>\n

DoDEA schools in Europe and the Pacific receive their whole-grain baked goods from the Exchange\u2019s bakeries at Gruenstadt, Germany; U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys; Yokota Air Base; and Camp Kinser, Okinawa.<\/p>\n

The Exchange school meal program offers meals in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s nutrition standards. Whole grains, lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat milk are offered daily. For more information, visit www.aafes.com\/about-exchange\/school-lunch-program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version<\/strong>: The Army & Air Force Exchange Service has been providing nutritious, low-cost meals to Warfighters\u2019 children overseas for nearly 70 years. Learn more about the program: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-2wd<\/a>.<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 54th<\/sup>-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $3.5 billion in earnings for critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Orisha Spence at spenceo@aafes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SEMBACH, Germany \u2013 For nearly 70 years, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service has brought healthy, affordable meals to Warfighters\u2019 children to sustain them throughout their busy school day. The Exchange\u2019s school meal program provided more than 4 million meals at Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Europe and the Pacific in 2022. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":9686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[311,310,25,315],"tags":[544,545,406],"class_list":["post-9685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe-region","category-pacific-region","category-press_releases","category-sfd","tag-bakeries","tag-dodea","tag-school-meal-program"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/10\/18\/army-air-force-exchange-service-nourishes-warfighters-children-through-school-meals\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service Nourishes Warfighters\u2019 Children Through School Meals","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/10\/18\/army-air-force-exchange-service-nourishes-warfighters-children-through-school-meals\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/10\/18\/army-air-force-exchange-service-nourishes-warfighters-children-through-school-meals\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/10\/ExPost-SMP_VER2-e1697653821290.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/10\/ExPost-SMP_VER2-e1697653821290.jpg"},"articleSection":"Europe Region","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Orisha Spence"}],"creator":["Orisha Spence"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["bakeries","dodea","school meal program"],"dateCreated":"2023-10-18T18:36:22Z","datePublished":"2023-10-18T18:36:22Z","dateModified":"2023-10-18T19:00:28Z"},"rendered":"