Shannon Soblit and her family load up on the groceries she bought at the on site commissary at the Charleston Armory. The program allows military families to save up to 30% on groceries.

"I save anywhere from $300 to $400," Soblit said. "I made two trips."

The Charleston Armory has no permanent commissary for soldiers and their families. But through an expansion of the on-site commissary program the West Virginia National Guard brings down supplies from Dayton on a periodic basis.

"We are coming out to the sites so that those people can shop," Commissary manager Darlene Oliver said. "We are here to serve the military folks."

The West Virginia National Guard said it pushed expansion of the on-site program to help families weather the tough economic climate. The Guard said it is trying to get its members more benefits seen by active duty soldiers because increasingly its National Guard soldiers are playing a greater role in military operations.

The next on-site commissary sale will be at the Summersville Armory on June 6th and 7th. Commissary sales will also be held August 1st and 2nd at the Fairmont Armory then at the Eleanor Armory on November 7th and 8th.