Airmen's Attic opens trunks to families, community

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Francesca Carrano
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
The Edwards Airmen's Attic offers a helping hand to not only its Airmen, but also the local community.

The Airmen's Attic is sponsored by the Edwards Top Three and is designed to enhance the quality of life for first and second term Airmen, said Senior Master Sgt. Victor Ambegia, 412th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent for the Logistics Test and Evaluation Squadron and also the volunteer Airmen's Attic program manager.

"The Airmen's Attic program has grown significantly over the past year," Sergeant Ambegia said. "We receive a lot of community donations from folks who are (permanently changing duty stations), and families who drop off any excess items at the Airmen's Attic."

The attic is focused on servicemembers and their families who are E-5s and below, said Tammi Taylor, Airmen's Attic volunteer manager. If there are extenuating circumstances or family needs, other ranks can also come by for help.

"Many of our young Airmen will find, if they visit the Airmen's Attic, they can off-set their cost of living," Sergeant Ambegia said.

The attic has everything from books, clothing and household items to washers and dryers.

"The Airmen's Attic got larger when we started taking in donations from other agencies on base -- especially with the (downsizing) of the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office," Sergeant Ambegia said. "When (DRMO) receives donations from base agencies that they were unable find a place for, we step up and become the recipient of some of the larger items that don't necessarily belong in a landfill and we can actually reuse in the community."

The Airmen's Attic accepts donations from military, civilian and contracting employees.

"As long as we can transport and store an item, we'll accept it," Sergeant Ambegia said.

One of the Airmen's Attic objectives is to help surrounding communities, even as far as Bakersfield, Calif.

"When we have an excess, and our Airmen are supported adequately, we work with agencies outside Edwards," Sergeant Ambegia said. "We have actually interacted with the United Desert Charities in Lancaster (Calif.,) in support of their 78 social service agencies and we've made donations to the Bakersfield homeless center and local rehabilitation and foster care programs."

Since the Airmen's Attic moved to its new location next to Outdoor Recreation, more people have had the opportunity to utilize this valuable program, Ms. Taylor said.

"I thought (the Airman's Attic) was a really nice idea for families who are moving, and they don't get their stuff on time and they don't have anything," said Maria Varigas, family member. "Instead of having to go buy everything all over again, they have somewhere offered to them."

Families are allowed to choose 40 items a month, Ms. Taylor said. The staff also looks at family size, if there are more than four children in a family they may be allowed to exceed the 40 items a month limit.

The Airmen's Attic is staffed completely by volunteers.

"We are also always looking for volunteers," she said. "We allow our volunteers to bring their children to the Airmen's Attic or, if they prefer, they are allowed eight hours of free child care.

The Airmen's Attic is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., for donations only, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for donations and shopping.