BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
The spirit of Christmas giving lives all year long in the Airmen's Attic here.
Store manager, Carolyn Amundson, whose husband was an Airman assigned here, saw a need, and set out to fill it. In just four years, she took an obscure resource center, relocated it, doubled the square footage, quadrupled the inventory, increased product offerings and built an incredible community of volunteer support.
"My husband retired from Air Force security forces, and then suddenly he deployed to Afghanistan for a year as a civilian, so I give all my time to the Attic," she said.
All her time is Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and the last Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon.
What makes The Airmen's Attic unique, besides Carolyn's obvious passion for giving back, is that active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen E-7 and below, as well as junior officers O-3 and below, shop for free at this mega thrift center.
"I never turn anything away," said Carolyn as she gave a tour of the facility. "I've gone around to yard sales to get items, we get donations from the Base Exchange and the commissary regularly, I've even nagged the Command Chief Master Sergeant," she said with a chuckle.
"Anything that is not taken by Airmen is donated weekly to homeless shelters, battered women's shelters and public schools."
Donations include, but are not limited to clothing items clean, serviceable, free of stains and rips, shoes and boots, house wares, appliances, toys, some furniture, seasonal items, nonperishable foods, and formula, disposable diapers, and other items for babies.
Military uniforms are only given to actively participating military members, so rank and insignia need not be removed prior to donating.
Undergarments are not accepted by law, and other items not taken include mattresses and older computer monitors and televisions.
"Each squadron volunteers a week to help in the Attic, so I always have willing and cheerful help," said Carolyn.
Yet, more volunteer attic elves are needed, as more Airmen and their families take advantage of this incredible free resource.
"Once a month, we host an all-ranks day, because the need is great with our Airmen, no matter what their rank," said Carolyn. "You never know who is hurting."
In the month of October, 415 volunteer hours were used to sort, inventory and stock 10,094 items of which 9,261 were given away. Each month more items are donated than taken by qualifying Airmen and their families, as evidenced by the numerous items in the store room waiting to be sorted and inventoried.
The cards, letters and e-mails with words of praise and gratitude taped on the walls are evidence of how much The Airmen's Attic is appreciated here. Carolyn is motivated every day by that gratitude.
"The small unexpected thanks from customers, the smile on a child face when he or she finds a 'new' toy and the friendships I have developed keep me going," she said.
The Airmen's Attic is located behind the Health and Wellness Center at 6101 B St. To learn more about volunteering, donating or becoming a regular shopper, call 634-5640.