Rotary Club of Lancaster donates new household items to Airmen's Attic

  • Published
  • By Diane Betzler
  • Staff writer
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It didn't take long for the Rotary Club of Lancaster to answer a call for help when they were told the Airmen's Attic was running low on merchandise needed to support the 134 or more Airmen expected to arrive here this summer.

Rotarians Kent and Barbara Sellon used $500 from the club's Community Smile Project budget and went on a weekend shopping spree.

"We checked the sales and spent two full days shopping at Macy's, Target, Big Lots and [J.C.] Penney's," Barbara Sellon said.

The couple made quite a haul for the money and delivered myriad household items to the Airmen's Attic July 22.

"Everything we purchased are items for the home and are free to Airmen [E-1 to E-6] who need it," offered Mr. Sellon.

"This is absolutely wonderful," said Jennifer Ireland, Airmen's Attic volunteer. Ireland said the Attic is normally closed during the summer months because so many people go on vacation that's it difficult to secure volunteers.

"But, just because we don't have volunteers doesn't mean we don't need stuff," she said, adding she is always willing to open the doors for donations. "I live on base, so it isn't a problem for me to come here to accept contributions."

The items the Rotary Club donated last week are just the stuff the Attic team of volunteers was looking for.

"By taking advantage of all the sales the local merchants were offering we were able to purchase a variety of household items," Mrs. Sellon said. Those items included a 12-piece stainless steel cookware set, two sets of dinnerware, pillows, plastic food storage containers and other items needed to turn a house into a home.

The Sellons said they just recently heard about the Airmen's Attic and expect it will become an ongoing project adopted by their club, which is a strong supporter of several veterans programs.

"We support Steve Baker's Veterans Stand Down at the Grace Resource Center and the [William J. "Pete" Knight] Veterans Home in Lancaster," Mrs. Sellon said.

"The Rotary Club of Lancaster usually supports 52 projects a year," Kent Sellon said. He said last year the club supported 56 projects.

"Most of it was community services," he said.

Mike Scheall, a 10-year member and a past president said the club is small - about 25 members strong - but active.

"We're always open to new members," he said.

Scheall said Stan Turner, Chief Executive Office of the Edwards Federal Credit Union, is looking at starting a Rotary Club on base. "He needs 25 people to start one up," Scheall said.

In an effort to be there for the incoming Airmen, Ireland said she will keep the Attic open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2 to 5 p.m.

"The Airmen's Attic is always open the first Saturday of the month, and that's when military retirees can come in also," Ireland said.