Hand-me-down haven

Published Oct. 10, 2018
By Senior Airman Ashley Maldonado
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Acting on the idiom of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” the 20th Force Support Squadron Attic connects families and gives back to the community through donations.

People drop off donations to the Attic every day, not only to help clear out their homes, but to help those who may be in need.

“We’re not just for the Air Force,” said Jennifer Kaylor, 20th FSS Attic coordinator. “We support Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and reserves. If you have an active military ID card, you can come in here. You don’t even have to be stationed at Shaw Air Force Base.”

Run strictly by volunteers, Team Shaw’s Attic has 1,328 families in their system, but the people who benefit from it number more than 5,000.

“I’ve always been someone who volunteers,” Kaylor said. “My family has been one, in the past, who has needed help. I understand what it’s like to need help for something; to have gone through hard times, so we’ve always been a family who has wanted to give back. My whole family volunteers in various organizations in town and always has in places.”

Items that are not used are given away to other organizations for those in need, such as a local church’s ‘coat closet,’ a horse rescue, a local church food pantry, homeless shelter, nursing home, dog shelters, etc.

“The Attic is always there to help those in need,” said Meghan Wilmoth, 20th FSS Attic co-coordinator.

Wilmoth went on to say the first sergeants on base contact the Attic when needed as well. For example, if they have an Airman in a situation where they have to leave their home with their kids, the first sergeants will contact the coordinators and they will open up the Attic so the family can get clothes or items that they need.

To contact the Attic, call (803) 895-8682 or visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheAtticShawAirForceBase/.