Airman’s Attic: pillar for community bond

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eileen Meier
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Many first-term Airmen come into the Air Force with few possessions, if any, and furnishing a household or buying kitchen supplies for their dorm can be costly.

Among the many support programs available to Airmen and their families, there is one that remains exclusive to the Air Force: the Airman's Attic.

The Airman's Attic program provides household goods, uniforms, furniture and many other things to Airmen E-5 and below plus their dependants at no cost. All items available are contributed by the base and local community, and anyone can make donations.

Airmen with children who visit find it helpful that they can swap out clothes their children have quickly outgrown and not have to spend a ton of money on new ones.

"We have three kids, so we donate a lot and take a lot through exchange," said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher Lauer, 23d Maintenance Group quality assurance inspector. "It's a good cause, and we enjoy coming here. We want to make sure it stays open for other people as well."

Airmen requesting larger items such as appliances or furniture can be placed on a wish list, which helps with donations that can't be accommodated due to space issues.

Any donations that aren't taken are donated to people in need, or facilities and organizations that won't sell them for profit. This also includes things the Airman's Attic can't accept like food and stuffed animals, which are given to shelters and churches.

Angila Compton, 23d Force Support Squadron Airman's Attic manager, says she needs eight or more volunteers each day to operate successfully, an amount of help that will be difficult to obtain during the summer months.

"We are always in need of volunteers," said Compton. "With summertime coming, most of my volunteers won't be here, because they have kids. Our active-duty guys come when we call, but their jobs come first."

Compton started working with the Airman's Attic program at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., in 1991, when it was known as the Family Support Center. She explains how she has seen the program evolve significantly and branch off into a support network for spouses.

"For new spouses to the base looking for an outreach, this is the place to come," said Compton. "We have all kinds of people here, and you never know who you're going to meet."

At most bases, people are informed about the Airman's Attic mostly on word of mouth from the spouses. Compton works with the first sergeants and spouses club to assist in this matter, and her management along with the efforts of the volunteers has gained the program much more traffic in the past two years.

Compton's husband Master Sgt. Matthew Compton, 23d Maintenance Group quality inspector, volunteers occasionally with other Airmen from his shop. He noted that he and his family used the Airman's Attic when they were eligible, and it was a shame to see the one at Moody on the verge of closure when they first got here.

"When I took over, the sign-in sheet had maybe two customers," said Angila Compton. "We've nearly quadrupled the amount of business we do. The volunteers have done great things, because people wouldn't come back if everything wasn't in a clean and organized manner."

In 2012, the Airman's Attic had an annual savings of more than $117,000 in household goods and uniforms. This aided them to receive the Outstanding Volunteer award at the 2013 Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, the most honorable of awards given.

"It was the first time we put in for an award and the first time we won," said Compton. "I say a hundred times a day that I can't do this by myself ... I'm the talking piece and these guys (volunteers) make this place run.

We have been very successful because of the people who use and donate to the program," added Compton. "It's near and dear to my heart; it always has been. I taught my girls how to do community service through the Airman's Attic, and I think everybody should give back to the community that takes care of them."

The Moody AFB Airman's Attic is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is located at 4552 Florida Rd. To volunteer or donate to the Airman's Attic, call 229-257-5955 or visit during business hours.