The housekeeping staff at Carolina Pines Inn participate in a plunger toss at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 10, 2012. Carolina Pines celebrated an international housekeeping week to show appreciation for their staff. Throughout the week, Carolina Pines housekeepers played games and competed for prizes.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
Earl Drakeford, Carolina Pines Inn custodial worker sits blind folded as he guesses the object at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 10, 2012. This game was in celebration of the international housekeeping week, a week to show appreciation to the staff.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
The housekeeping staff at Carolina Pines Inn eat breakfast at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 10, 2012. Carolina Pines celebrated an international housekeeping week to show appreciation for their staff. Throughout the week, breakfast was provided by management each morning.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
Earl Drakeford, Carolina Pines Inn custodial worker, sits blind-folded as he guesses the object at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 10, 2012. This contest was in celebration of the international housekeeping week, a week to show appreciation to the staff.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
A plunger lies on the ground after being thrown at the international housekeeping week plunger toss at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 10, 2012. Carolina Pines Inn held this event to show appreciation for their staff. Throughout the week, Carolina Pines housekeepers played games and competed for prizes.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Sikorski/Released)
by Airman Nicole Sikorski
20th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
9/18/2012 - SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Housekeepers at the Carolina Pines Inn celebrated the annual international housekeeping week Sept. 10 to 14.
Taking a break from finding dust bunnies and making beds, the housekeepers at Carolina Pines had time to play games and relax from their normal schedules.
International housekeeping week is an Air Force-wide event, held on many bases to show appreciation for the hard work that house keepers do at lodging locations.
Throughout the week, staff participate in morale boosting contests such as; the toilet paper toss, plunger toss, can you find the mistake, find the name card on the bed, dust bunny hunt and make the beds.
Not only do the housekeepers get a chance to compete against each other for prizes at the end of the week, but management provides them breakfast each morning.
On the staff at Carolina Pines there are currently 25 employees in housekeeping, two of are maintenance, and two are building inspectors.
Housekeepers at Carolina Pines are often retired Air Force servicemembers, or spouses of retired servicemembers and other members of Team Shaw's community.
According to Valerie Burnier, Carolina Pines Inn housekeeping manager, the housekeepers at Shaw have a rigorous work schedule.
"This week is important for morale," said Burnier. "On any given day we can have anywhere from one checkout to 80 checkouts. Overall, we clean 132 rooms. It gives (the staff) one week a year to shine and show their very best. They work hard during the summer when its 110 degrees outside and some of the air conditioners aren't working."
According to Samara Brown, a Carolina Pines housekeeper, the staff looks forward to this week.
"I wish we could do it every day," said Brown. "We work hard, and every time we can have fun we like to have fun. I think it shows that they appreciate us. Sometimes they don't get to say it because there is so much going on."
If you would like more information about the Carolina Pines Inn, call 803-895-3803
