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Community Attic supports military families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Destinee Dougherty
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Tucked into a dark entryway to a large building is a small store that offers a wide selection of items, ranging from military uniforms to children’s toys, all for free. Boundless opportunities wait on the shelves of the store to catch the eye of a lucky customer.

Helping Team Shaw save money and recycle unwanted items, the Attic provides an array of products donated from military families to military families.

The Attic offers goods such as furniture, baby items, clothing and household necessities to members from all branches of service, E-5 and below. Each family can take home 25 items per week and one bulk item per month at no cost.

The store also has an all-ranks day the third Thursday of each month to share its opportunities to save with the rest of Team Shaw.

For people trying to save money, the Attic helps families find items to decorate their homes, said Jordan Boswell, Team Shaw spouse and Shaw Attic volunteer.

The Attic is especially helpful to new homeowners, parents, and Airmen and Soldiers just arriving to Shaw, offering a way to obtain items they need for their new living quarters.

For service members, especially younger Airmen and Soldiers, military uniforms can be expensive. At the Attic uniforms can be found in various sizes and are available to all ranks.

The Attic does not just help out with day-to-day savings. When Team Shaw members are in a pinch, the Attic has been able to provide assistance by contributing needed household goods.

“Last year in base housing, a roof caved in; the house flooded and a family lost everything,” said Jennifer Kaylor, Team Shaw spouse and Attic coordinator. Kaylor said families who experience house fires or delayed arrival of their belongings to Shaw have also sought assistance from the Attic.


However, the process is a two-way street – in order to give, the Attic also has to receive.

All donations to the Attic are provided by the base community under the stipulation that they are in good condition without stains, tears or missing parts.

Donations can be dropped off at any time in the donation bins at Building 1411. Items that do not meet the Attic criteria are further donated to local charity organizations.

“Selling” more than 4,000 products a month, the Attic presents opportunities to not only save money but also to give back to the Team Shaw community by volunteering.

Run solely by volunteers working six to twelve hours a week, Shaw Attic volunteers sort donated items, run the front desk and keep the store clean.

Volunteering at the Attic is an opportunity to give back to the base community and help keep the store up and running.

Community, one of the 20th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Stephen Jost’s 4 C’s, is a vital aspect of Shaw Air Force Base. Through a circular process of donation and accumulation, the Attic assists Team Shaw to come together as a community to support each other and help save money.

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Community Attic supports military families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Destinee Dougherty
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Tucked into a dark entryway to a large building is a small store that offers a wide selection of items, ranging from military uniforms to children’s toys, all for free. Boundless opportunities wait on the shelves of the store to catch the eye of a lucky customer.

Helping Team Shaw save money and recycle unwanted items, the Attic provides an array of products donated from military families to military families.

The Attic offers goods such as furniture, baby items, clothing and household necessities to members from all branches of service, E-5 and below. Each family can take home 25 items per week and one bulk item per month at no cost.

The store also has an all-ranks day the third Thursday of each month to share its opportunities to save with the rest of Team Shaw.

For people trying to save money, the Attic helps families find items to decorate their homes, said Jordan Boswell, Team Shaw spouse and Shaw Attic volunteer.

The Attic is especially helpful to new homeowners, parents, and Airmen and Soldiers just arriving to Shaw, offering a way to obtain items they need for their new living quarters.

For service members, especially younger Airmen and Soldiers, military uniforms can be expensive. At the Attic uniforms can be found in various sizes and are available to all ranks.

The Attic does not just help out with day-to-day savings. When Team Shaw members are in a pinch, the Attic has been able to provide assistance by contributing needed household goods.

“Last year in base housing, a roof caved in; the house flooded and a family lost everything,” said Jennifer Kaylor, Team Shaw spouse and Attic coordinator. Kaylor said families who experience house fires or delayed arrival of their belongings to Shaw have also sought assistance from the Attic.


However, the process is a two-way street – in order to give, the Attic also has to receive.

All donations to the Attic are provided by the base community under the stipulation that they are in good condition without stains, tears or missing parts.

Donations can be dropped off at any time in the donation bins at Building 1411. Items that do not meet the Attic criteria are further donated to local charity organizations.

“Selling” more than 4,000 products a month, the Attic presents opportunities to not only save money but also to give back to the Team Shaw community by volunteering.

Run solely by volunteers working six to twelve hours a week, Shaw Attic volunteers sort donated items, run the front desk and keep the store clean.

Volunteering at the Attic is an opportunity to give back to the base community and help keep the store up and running.

Community, one of the 20th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Stephen Jost’s 4 C’s, is a vital aspect of Shaw Air Force Base. Through a circular process of donation and accumulation, the Attic assists Team Shaw to come together as a community to support each other and help save money.