HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- After months of renovations, Holloman’s Thrift Shop is scheduled to re-open August 14th in Building 232 on Second St. and Connecticut Ave.
A leaky roof, flooded bathrooms and rodents scurrying in the shadows were only a small number of the problems that plagued Building 232 earlier this year. While this building offered dismal shelter at best, the two agencies held behind their worn doors, the Airman’s Attic and Thrift Shop, are essential to the thousands of Airmen and their families at Holloman Air Force Base.
“It is always a challenge to get maintenance done on a building that isn’t mission essential,” said Tracy Patton, Holloman Thrift Shop Advisor. “The Thrift Shop was selected for the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron’s annual training project. They exceeded what we were hoping for, which was just to get rid of the rodent issue. They did an enormous amount of work in about a four and a half month period.”
In addition to solving Building 232’s pest problem, the 49th CES installed new lighting fixtures, sealed holes in a leaking roof and built a new lobby wall. The 49th CES project also provided essential training to Airmen preparing for deployment.
“This troop training project on the Airmen’s Attic and Thrift Shop has truly been a success,” said Lt. Col. Joe Purcell, 49th CES commander. “It creatively allowed us to solve the deficiency in a building that gives so much back to the base. It also provided the opportunity to practice and train our core tasks. This story is a true win-win situation.”
The Airman’s Attic and Thrift Shop are both volunteer based organizations that provide gently used items at a low cost, or even for free. These agencies thrive on the generosity of the base populous, anyone of any rank or duty status is welcome to donate unwanted items or volunteer.
“Anyone interested can come by when we are open and try volunteering out for 30 minutes,” said Patton. “If a new Airman is lost and they don’t know what to do because it’s isolated here, they can come in and volunteer for an hour. They will be doing something where they not only meet and engage with other people, but also give back to the community.”
The Airman’s Attic and Thrift Shop are prepared to give back to the community as well.
“The Thrift Shop falls under the Holloman Officer’s Spouse’s Club, we are their charitable arm,” said Patton. “We will help out in a crisis if we need to. If someone comes in after their house burned down, we can just open the doors and say ‘take whatever you want.’”
The Thrift Shop is open to any Department of Defense identification card holder, this includes military dependents and civilian contractors. Their hours will be Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Airmen and their families are encouraged to visit the Thrift Shop Facebook page for Saturday hours, as they are dependent on volunteers.
The Airman’s Attic is open to Airmen of the grade E-5 and below. All of the items are free of charge. The Airman’s Attic summer hours are the first and third Saturday’s of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and on the first Saturday of each month the store is open to Airmen of all ranks.
For more information about the Airman’s Attic and base Thrift Shop, including up-to date store hours and information about the reopening visit www.facebook.com/HollomanAirmansAttic and www.facebook.com/HollomanThriftShop.