PHILADELPHIA –
Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support provided more than 37,000 pounds of food to service members around the globe for Easter, April 20. In addition to special religious items for Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Orthodox Palm Sunday and Passover.
The Clothing and Textiles supply chain provided 67 ounces of ashes for Ash Wednesday, March 5, 164 Seder kits and 21 dozen cases of wine for Passover, April 12 and 20,300 leaves of palm and orthodox palm for Palm Sunday and Orthodox Palm Sunday, respectively, April 13, to 121 global customers.
In addition to Easter food items, the Subsistence supply chain also provided Kosher for Passover Meals, Ready-to-Eat for Passover.
For Easter, warfighters can look forward to:
• 7,155 pounds of Beef.
• 7,866 pounds of Ham.
• 5,657 pounds of Shrimp.
• 7,462 pounds of Pies and Cakes.
• 4,220 pounds of Lamb.
• 4,770 pounds of Pork Shoulder Hocks.
C&T and Subsistence team members worked with customers and vendors to ensure service members within and outside of the continental U.S. were prepared to celebrate their respective holidays. Delivery locations included Germany, Poland, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, and Japan.
“We do whatever we can to get the items to the customers,” said Christine McCann, C&T’s lead customer account specialist for the ecclesiastical team. “This is a morale-based program we feel is important to the warfighter.”
Subsistence Program Manager Joe Zanolle echoed the significance of providing the items for morale.
“I believe it is important for morale to support the religious beliefs and practices of our service members,” Zanolle said. “The most rewarding part, of preparing the Kosher for Passover ration meal orders is knowing that I am contributing in a small way to our warfighters’ ability to practice and observe their religious diet for the Passover holiday.”
In November 2024, C&T sent out an e-blast to approximately 80,000 customers soliciting orders for the 2025 spring religious season, and accepted orders up until the respective holidays.
“We want them to have the item, even if it’s a late order,” McCann said.
Subsistence accepted orders for this year’s Passover season the second half of 2024, with a December deadline to compile orders. A total of 1,887 orders for cases of Kosher for Passover MREs were received this year, with 12 MREs in each case.
“Our average over the previous seven years has been about 1,000 cases,” said Subsistence Readiness Division Chief John Trunzo. “DLA had 1,970 cases ordered last year, so 2025 has been another stellar year in supporting the religious needs of our warfighter customers.”
Passover meals are not stocked, and a special purchase is made based on annual requirements.
Collaboration was critical to providing items, as team members track items from the initial order to delivery.
McCann coordinated with counterparts at U.S. Central Command, DLA Europe and Africa, third party logistics vendors and C&T acquisition specialists who coordinate directly with vendors.
“There’s a lot of moving parts with items and communication back and forth to ensure the timely delivery of items themselves,” McCann said.
Zanolle, who started managing the Passover meal program in 2016 added he has received emails and notes of appreciation of Passover meals from warfighters.
“I recently received a nice call...thanking me for my assistance and dedication to managing the Passover program,” Zanolle said.
Service members and chaplains looking to procure regular Kosher and Halal meals, are encouraged to contact their food service officer, or whoever procures MREs and rations for your unit and let them know of your interest in these meals.