Sam’s Club Offers Military Free Passes During Shutdown

In the wake of the U.S. government shutdown of domestic military base commissaries, all U.S. Sam’s Club locations are providing free shopping passes to military personnel, retirees and their families.

To get a temporary pass, customers must show military ID or proof of past/present military service at Sam’s Club Member Service counters. Sam’s Club will continue to offer the passes until the U.S. government resumes domestic commissary operations.

“Military personnel and their families heavily depend on commissaries for low-price home and business essentials,” said the Bentonville, Ark.-based warehouse club division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which has more than 47 million members in clubs across the United States. “In appreciation for the service the military provides members and communities, Sam’s Club welcomes military families to shop its clubs as a first step to restoring normalcy and meeting family needs during uncertain times.”

In a similar move, Lubbock, Texas-based United Super Markets has extended its Military Discount Wednesdays program to seven days a week for the duration of the government shutdown.