Cannon Commissary to offer carts for special needs children

link Courtesy photo: U.S. Air Force

Defense Commissary Agency Public Affairs

Forty commissaries across the United States, to include the commissary at Cannon Air Force Base will soon offer a grocery cart designed specifically for special needs children.

Called “Caroline’s Cart,” it enables special-needs children — or even adults under 250 pounds — to safely and easily accompany parents or caretakers on commissary shopping trips. The cart provides the option of using one basket instead of pushing both a wheelchair or stroller and a grocery cart when shopping.

“Many retailers and malls are now offering these special needs carts,” said Randy Eller, Defense Commissary Agency’s deputy director of logistics. “Placing these carts into our commissaries will provide a valuable service to many military families at these installations.”

Eller said some commissaries have already received the carts. “Once we roll out the first 40 and gauge response, we’ll see if we should deploy more to the field,” he said.

Slightly larger than a traditional shopping cart, the special needs carts have handles that swing away to allow easy access to the seat, and a platform below the seat serves as a footrest. With the occupant facing the cart operator, the seat contains a five-point adjustable harness for support. The cart’s two 8-inch wheels and four casters provide maneuverability and stability, and brakes help ensure safety while loading or unloading the passenger.

The carts will be located at the front of the store, or customers can ask a manager for assistance. Carts will be available only on a first-come, first-served basis. It will be the patron’s responsibility to place the individual in the cart.

Below is a list of Caroline’s Cart availability at commissaries, by state:

Alabama: Redstone Arsenal

California: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Base San Diego, Vandenberg Air Force Base

Colorado: Peterson Air Force Base

D.C .: Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Florida: Naval Station Mayport, Patrick Air Force Base

Georgia: Fort Benning, Fort Gordon

Hawaii: Pearl Harbor Commissary at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam

Illinois: Naval Station Great Lakes

Kansas: Fort Leavenworth, McConnell Air Force Base

Kentucky: Fort Knox

Maryland: Fort Meade

Missouri: Richards-Gebaur

Montana: Malmstrom Air Force Base

Nevada: Nellis Air Force Base

New Hampshire: Naval Shipyard Portsmouth

New Mexico: Cannon Air Force Base

New York: Fort Hamilton

North Carolina: Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Fort Bragg South

Ohio: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Oklahoma: Tinker Air Force Base

South Carolina: Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island

Tennessee: Naval Support Activity Memphis

Texas: Fort Bliss, Fort Hood — Clear Creek

Virginia: Fort Belvoir, Joint Base Langley-Eustis (both commissaries), Naval Air Station Oceana, Marine Corps Base Quantico

Washington: Fairchild Air Force Base, McChord Commissary at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Read more about Caroline’s Cart at http://www.carolinescart.com.