{"id":9963,"date":"2023-12-21T17:45:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T17:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=9963"},"modified":"2023-12-21T17:45:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T17:45:03","slug":"tinker-air-force-base-exchange-shoppers-have-nearly-4000-in-layaway-merchandise-paid-off-in-full","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/12\/21\/tinker-air-force-base-exchange-shoppers-have-nearly-4000-in-layaway-merchandise-paid-off-in-full\/","title":{"rendered":"Tinker Air Force Base Exchange Shoppers Have Nearly $4,000 in Layaway Merchandise Paid Off in Full"},"content":{"rendered":"

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE<\/strong> \u2013 For the second consecutive year, Tinker Air Force Base Exchange shoppers enjoyed a special holiday surprise, having each of their layaway balances paid in full<\/a>. The balances totaled nearly $4,000 in holiday purchases, paid for by nonprofit organization Soldier\u2019s Wish.<\/p>\n

All Tinker Exchange shoppers who had layaway balances were invited to the main food court on Dec. 20 under the guise of a surprise sweepstakes win. Upon arrival, they were greeted by 72nd Air Base Wing Deputy Commander Col. Hardy T. Giles II, Tinker Exchange General Manager Charles Eaves, the Exchange team and Soldier\u2019s Wish Executive Director Debra Wimpee.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were thrilled once again to get the chance to set up this event for our shoppers this year,\u201d Eaves said. \u201cThis is a perfect opportunity to help make a busy and stressful holiday season a little easier for the Tinker community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The store team assembled a gift-wrapped shopping cart for each shopper with their layaway merchandise inside.<\/p>\n

Two shoppers, Navy Petty Officer Second Class Jessica Chapman and Thomas Chapman, were surprised then relieved, as their holiday merchandise on layaway for their 10-year-old and 5-year-old children was paid off for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I got the call, I was told I won a sweepstakes,\u201d Jessica said. \u201cI told myself, \u2018I didn\u2019t enter a sweepstakes. What are they talking about?\u2019 And I was asked if I could come to the base the next day.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are incredibly blessed and appreciative for them doing this for families who can\u2019t pay outright for stuff like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her husband agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels incredible,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cWhen they put something like this in place and someone says, \u2018It\u2019s all paid for,\u2019 it\u2019s a beautiful feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Navy
From left: Navy Petty Officer Second Class Jessica Chapman and Thomas Chapman with their holiday merchandise.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Exchange was honored to be a part of the surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis defines our core value of \u2018family serving family,\u2019\u201d Eaves said. \u201cSeeing the joy and surprise on each of their faces was an amazing experience for our team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version: <\/strong>For the second straight year, a group of lucky Tinker Exchange shoppers received a special holiday surprise\u2014having their layaway balances, totaling nearly $4,000, paid off in full. Learn more: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-2AH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2013 30 \u2013<\/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-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:<\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Travis Day, 214-312-3534 or daytra@aafes.com.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u202f www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u202f https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE \u2013 For the second consecutive year, Tinker Air Force Base Exchange shoppers enjoyed a special holiday surprise, having each of their layaway balances paid in full. The balances totaled nearly $4,000 in holiday purchases, paid for by nonprofit organization Soldier\u2019s Wish. All Tinker Exchange shoppers who had layaway balances were invited […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":9965,"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":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/12\/21\/tinker-air-force-base-exchange-shoppers-have-nearly-4000-in-layaway-merchandise-paid-off-in-full\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Tinker Air Force Base Exchange Shoppers Have Nearly $4,000 in Layaway Merchandise Paid Off in Full","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/12\/21\/tinker-air-force-base-exchange-shoppers-have-nearly-4000-in-layaway-merchandise-paid-off-in-full\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/12\/21\/tinker-air-force-base-exchange-shoppers-have-nearly-4000-in-layaway-merchandise-paid-off-in-full\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/231220-F-SN568-1007.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/231220-F-SN568-1007.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Travis Day"}],"creator":["Travis Day"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2023-12-21T17:45:03Z","datePublished":"2023-12-21T17:45:03Z","dateModified":"2023-12-21T17:45:03Z"},"rendered":"