NEWS
Page 6 By Becca Castellano U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart On April 17, curbside shopping opened at Robinson Barracks Commissary to protect high-risk customers from posible exposure to COVID-19. Since then, the concierge program has expanded to the Panzer Kaserne, Kelly and Patch Barracks commissaries and added a delivery option for those quarantined both on and off post. Over the past six months, more than 115 families have benefitted from it. The Army Community Servicerun program works by pairing volunteer shoppers with anyone who feels unsafe entering the commissary or who cannot due to quarantine. They can access the program through the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart app or by sending a message to the USAG Stuttgart ACS Facebook page. On the app, the customer can see what is available at their commissary and create a shopping list. ACS connects volunteers with customers to coordinate times to shop and receive goods delivered curbside or at their residence. Customers must be available
Stuttgart Citizen, November 2020
Concierge program feeds quarantined families
Susanna Wilkerson selects groceries as a volunteer shopper for the concierge shopper program.
for phone calls during the scheduled shopping time in case list substitutions need approval, and
WE ARE NOW OPEN! Seating available with reservations. Take out also offered
to provide credit card details to the cashier at checkout. Becki Eggers first used the program when her family of six was quarantined after her high schoolers had classroom contact with a positive COVID-19 case. “This program exceeded all my best hopes, let alone any of my expectations,” said Eggers, in an online group chat. “I sent my initial email, including my longerthan-average-list because I have two teenage boys with free access to the kitchen, and was surprised when a response came within minutes.” Despite the three-day window for requests to be filled, she was connected to a shopper within
an hour and maintained contact throughout the shopping trip. Eggers, who hates to impose on others, said she is grateful for this program and the volunteers who donate their time. ACS Admin Support Assistant, Debbie Slaughter, said the program will continue to play a vital role in the community, especially during the next PCS season and upcoming holidays. “Thanksgiving might be more intimate this year but some traditions, like the food, can be the same for quarantined families through our volunteers,” said Slaughter. “There’s no better time to be thankful for what we have
Opening Hours
Saturday from 12:00 pm Sunday from 11:00 am Tuesday-Friday from 16:00 pm Mondays closed
Reservations
0711 63 39 66 40 prost@schlossturm-stuttgart.com www.schlossturm-stuttgart.com
Traditional Bavarian/Swabian restaurant with over 300 seats... May it be a nice quiet meal, birthday party or a larger scale event, Braustube Schlossturm is the perfect location. SI-Centrum Stuttgart
Photo by Becca Castellano, USAG Stuttgart
Plieninger Straße 109
70567 Stuttgart
and the volunteers that are out there making it happen.” One of those volunteers, Mary Jeffcoat, said the program gives her family the perfect opportunity to give back to their new community. “I always look for a way for us to plug in at all of our assignments but between COVID, four kids and a husband who works different shifts, it’s hard to volunteer just anywhere,” said Jeffcoat. “But this we can do. It is an unfamiliar time we are living in, but grocery shopping is not.” To volunteer or request assistance shopping, download the USAG Stuttgart app and select the COVID-19 button, then concierge.
