LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Virginia –
When 2-year-old Matthew Tinker and his 6-month-old sister, Serenity, moved here in November 2004, the harsh Virginia winter was too cold for the warm weather clothes their parents had purchased for them in California.
Trying to start a new life at Langley, Airman 1st Class Matthew Tinker and his wife, Carrie, did not have the funds available to buy new wardrobes for the children.
At the Airmen’s Attic, they found warm clothes for the kids, toys and a few things for their new residence.
Now the kids are 4 and 2 and as they got bigger, Mrs. Tinker either found good quality clothes at the Airman’s Attic or purchased them from local retailers. And every time the kids grew out of an outfit, Carrie made sure to give back to the Airmen’s Attic.
“We came here with nothing,” she said. “It was freezing and we didn’t have enough warm clothes for the kids. I just want to give something back to the program that helped us out so much.”
The Langley Airmen’s Attic has been helping families like the Tinkers for many years, but without more volunteers the Attic is in danger of shutting its doors for good.
Sara Andreano and Rosa Fugett have volunteered at the Attic for nearly three years each, and for the past few months, they were the only volunteers.
“We nearly shut our doors for good in August,” said Mrs. Andreano, “It just got to be too much.”
Mrs. Andreano suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and Mrs. Fugett has been diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, yet together they kept donation records on the computer, stocked the food pantry and sorted and hung or put on display clothes, shoes and household goods.
Since August, enough volunteers have stepped up to keep the Airmen’s Attic open, but many more are still needed to keep the program running smoothly.
Tech. Sgt. Lee Dubbels, 10th Intelligence Squadron, recently began volunteering his days off work to the Attic.
“I started out coming here to do community service and make myself a well-rounded Airman,” he said, but I couldn’t just come here once or twice. I’ll keep coming here as long as my schedule allows it.
Sergeant Dubbels believes in the program and the benefits it provides. He often sends his young Airmen starting new families to the Attic to ease their financial burden.
The Airmen’s Attic is one of the ultimate quality of life programs the Air Force offers.
Recently, Mrs. Andreano was able to provide warm clothes and other household goods to a single mother with three young boys.
“She recently went through a divorce and she was just coming from Okinawa,” Mrs. Andreano said. “She didn’t have the funds available to buy anything.”
In another instance, two Airmen found themselves without the proper gear for their deployment. Thanks to donation to the Attic, they were able to find what they needed for their upcoming deployment without spending a dime.
Tucked away in far corner of the Airmen’s Attic is a little known but valuable resource. The food pantry can help Airmen stretch their dinner budget without having to worry where the money will come from.
“First sergeants can sign in their Airmen and they have access to all the food we have stored here,” said Mrs. Andreano about the canned vegetables, Spaghettios and other nonperishable foods stacked neatly about the room.
Whether its uniforms or kids clothes, toys or other household goods, even nonperishable food items the Airmen’s Attic is there to support Langley Airmen. But the Attic cannot continue to function without donations or volunteers -- which one will you be?