Shoppers find treasures in the Airmen's Attic

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Janine Thibault
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The Airmen's Attic provides a location where Airmen and their families can make donations and also find needed items.

"Airman may be spending hundreds of dollars getting themselves in to debt trying to clothe their children or furnish their first home. Why spend money when there are items in perfectly good condition that you can get for free?" said Master Sgt. Shannon Wall, 354th Maintenance Squadron training manager and President of Top 3.

The goal of the Airmen's Attic is to improve the welfare of Air Force ID card holders assigned to Eielson Air Force Base and the local area. The Attic carries furniture, household appliances, and clothing for all ages, seasonal decorations, electronics, books, toys, games and uniform items. It is run by the Top 3 with the help of 5/6 and Airman Committed to Excellence.

"If people want it, they can have it. We have just about everything you can imagine in here," said Master Sgt. Michele Deaner, 354th Fighter Wing Staff Judge Advocate law office superintendent.

In order to give everyone a fair chance at getting what they need there is a limit to the number of items they can get. This also helps to make sure the items are actually being used and not being taken elsewhere for profit.

"Airman and their families simply bring their wanted items to the front counter where the volunteer will take down the members name and number of items checked out, a very simple process," said Sergeant Wall. "This allows us to track the number of people that use the facility and ensures there is a valid need based on use and items taken."

After a month, items that are not taken are donated to the Fairbanks Resource Agency for distribution to the Fairbanks Homeless Shelter, Value Village and Fairbanks Rescue Mission. If there are additional items left over, they are then sent to African aid programs to help with their needs.

The Airmen's Attic relies on volunteers to run smoothly.

Any Air Force active duty member, dependent or child aged 15 years old or older may volunteer. Volunteers are provided 20 hours of free child care every month per child through the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Approximately 10 volunteers recently installed new shelving and sorted donations to better organize the Attic on Columbus Day. A separate uniform item room was added and a snack bar area was renovated to provide coffee, water and snacks - free of charge - for volunteers during their hours of service.

The Airmen's Attic is located in building 2346 on East Loop two buildings from the Network Control Center. The Attic is open Wednesday's from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In November and December the Airmen's Attic will also be open on the third Saturday.