Civ/Mil group selects Airman's Attic as annual project

  • Published
  • By Stephen K. Robinson
  • 95 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Edwards Air Force Base Civilian-Military Support Group has selected the Edwards Airman's Attic as their 2010 Annual Project.

"In January, the Airman's Attic relocated from small cramped facilities on base to their current location in the base's old exchange/commissary, building 7211," said Danny Bazzell, Edwards Air Force Base Civilian-Military Support Group vice president and Airman's Attic Fundraising Committee chairperson. "The old facilities made it extremely difficult to display and operate all the items available."

The Airman's Attic provides home items for Air Force Airmen and their families.

"As the facilities are in an 8,000 square-foot area, it allows the Airman's Attic to be set up in a fashion similar to a department store where the needs of the service members can be better met," said Mr. Bazzell. "But it has old bare tile and carpet floors and needs some repairs to make it a little more conducive to customer comfort, namely carpet. That's where the Edwards' Civ-Mil Support Group comes in."

The AA is like a clearing house at Edwards for those household items that departing service and community members do not need or desire to take with them when they relocate, retire, or upgrade their homes.

"Rather than throw away or discard goods such as serviceable furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, toys, etc., those items are donated to the Airman's Attic," Mr. Bazzell continued. "The all-volunteer staff at the Airman's Attice then inspect, repair and prepare donated items for use by young military families at Edwards who may need these items but do not have the funds to purchase them through normal channels. All items at the Airman's Attic are free to any qualifying family, and in these tough times business is brisk."

To make the Airman's Attic new facilities more conducive to its customers, the civ-mil group will install new flooring using the 'self-help' program.

"We are estimating that material cost for the project will be roughly $15,000," said Mr. Bazzell. "We will be purchasing commercial-grade carpet tiles and the adhesive needed to properly install the tiles."

Carpet tiles were chosen as opposed to conventional large carpet rolls so if an area gets damaged in the future, it can easily be repaired or replaced one tile at a time rather than having to cut out a section and patch it.

"When you take into consideration the priceless sacrifice that our service members make in wearing the uniform of our country then this is the least that can be done for them in return," Mr. Bazzell said.

Since the Edwards' Air Force Base Civilian-Military Group is a 501-c(3) non-profit organization, all contributions are, in full or in part, tax deductable and may be made out to the EAFB Civ-Mil, P.O. Box 812, Lancaster, CA., 93584-0812. It should be noted on any check that the contribution is for the Edwards Airman's Attic.

Tax deductable donations may be made at the Airman's Attic on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.