Airman's Attic getting a new home

Published Dec. 27, 2007
By Corey Dahl
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- The Airman's Attic is moving to a location that's more store, less cellar.

The attic, which provides junior-enlisted servicemembers with gently-used items such as toys, uniforms and housewares, is relocating from the basement of Columbia Hall to the old garden shop in the former base exchange/commissary complex. Scheduled to take place by the end of January, the move has the attic's organizers thrilled.

"We can't wait to move," said Faith Hannah, who manages attic volunteers for the Airman and Family Readiness Center. "The old garden shop is such a great location."

The move is a big improvement over the attic's current home. Besides being hard to find, the basement spot had no bathrooms for volunteers and was located at the end of a steep staircase - a difficult feature for a store that regularly moves large pieces of furniture.

"It's hard to get large items up and down those stairs," said Kimberly Trent, the attic's head volunteer. "This new location will be a thousand times better."

At the new location, donations will be dropped off and loaded up at the store's loading dock. And the store's covered porch will be used for large items, freeing up the inside area for more clothes, toys and the like.

Lots of built-in shelving will allow for items to be easily organized, and the Loan Locker, which allows servicemembers to borrow essential household items, will be located right next door.

Best of all, organizers say, the new location is just a lot easier to find. Ms. Trent said she expects the number of Airmen the attic serves, which is currently about 25 a day, to double once the new location is up and running.

"I have a feeling we're going to have a lot more people coming here," she said. "We're really looking forward to getting in, putting stuff out and opening up for Airmen."