A penny saved, is a penny earned

Patrons at the Airman’s Attic look through the store’s inventory on Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, Jan. 29, 2020. The Airman’s Attic is a volunteer-based organization where Airmen of all ranks can turn in or pick up military uniform items and Airmen E-6 and below can get anything from a t-shirt to a TV -- all for free. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jael Laborn)

A penny saved, is a penny earned

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Zachery Gross, 373rd Training Readiness Squadron, Det. 4 Mission Ready Airmen instructor, leaves the Airman’s Attic with a switch board at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, Jan. 29, 2020. The Airman’s Attic provides service members with the opportunity to donate unwanted clothes, uniform items and other household goods in good condition. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jael Laborn)

A penny saved, is a penny earned

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Letyraial Cunningham, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron engineer, browses through items in the Airman’s Attic at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, Jan. 29, 2020. All items arriving to the Airman’s Attic are donated by Team Little Rock members in an effort to give back to military members’ households. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jael Laborn)

A penny saved, is a penny earned

Published Feb. 11, 2020
By Staff Sgt. Jael Laborn
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --

Raising a family can sometimes feel like it is financially demanding, Airmen need new uniforms and bills need to be paid on time. The Little Rock Top III council wants Airmen in these situations to know the Airman’s Attic is here to help.

“The Airman’s Attic is extremely important to our community and underused by Airmen,” said Master Sgt. Sarah Beyers, 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent. “The store has furniture, home appliances, kitchenware, bedding, clothing, home décor, toys galore and a large number of baby items completely free!”

The Airman's Attic survives on donations from service members and donors from the local community. The Little Rock Air Force Base store is ran by an all-volunteer force – Kristi Dedenbach, Tasha Greet and Dakota McGowan are the store managers.

“I would like to highlight the fact that these women are 100% volunteers and have busy lives; often juggling responsibilities to open the doors each week,” Beyers said. “They typically each spend ten hours a week maintaining the store, providing customer support and directing volunteers.”

One of the volunteer store managers, who’s been working at the Airman’s Attic since October 2019, began as a customer.

“I used to come in and shop and I saw that they needed help,” said LaTasha Greet, Airman’s Attic manager. “I love to help people. This place is important because it helps people with so many different kinds of items for free.”

Beyers explained the store averages 200 items per week and sorts through an estimated 7,000 pounds of donations per year.

“Volunteers are needed to restock shelves, organize the store, sort through donations and interact with customers,” Beyers said. “The store is thankful for the donors and volunteers are needed to keep the store afloat.”

The Airman’s Attic is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, to E-6 and below, including dependents, and is located in Building 864 Thomas Dr., Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, 72099.

For more information please call (501) 987-4105.