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Shaw housekeepers celebrate international housekeeping week

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashley L. Gardner
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Housekeepers at the Carolina Pines Inn celebrated international housekeeping week here, Sept. 9 to 13.

International housekeeping week is an Air Force-wide event, held on many bases to show appreciation for the hard work that housekeepers do at lodging locations. During that week, all Air Force bases allow time for housekeepers to bond and have fun with their job.

Throughout the week, the housekeeping staff participates in morale boosting contests including a toilet paper toss, push cart and stock competition, a dust bunny hunt and a bed making contest. In addition to the events, there is also a luncheon at the end of the week.

Not only do the housekeepers get a chance to compete against each other for prizes given at the end of the week, but the Carolina Pines Inn management also provides them breakfast each morning.

Housekeepers at Carolina Pines Inn are often retired Air Force service members, or spouses of retired service members. On the staff at the Carolina Pines Inn there are currently 25 employees in housekeeping, two of whom are maintenance workers for 132 rooms.

"This week is important for morale," said Valerie Burnier, Carolina Pines Inn housekeeping manager. "The workers need to some time to have fun and know that they are important and to just bond."

According to Martha Wright, a Carolina Pines housekeeping supervisor, the staff really enjoyed the week.

"It was a really good turn out," said Wright. "I really enjoyed myself and all the other housekeepers seemed to have enjoyed themselves as well."