VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Vandenberg Spouses' Club is an all-inclusive charitable and social organization dedicated to promoting a sense of belonging to, and support for, the collective voice of the Vandenberg community.
With the goal of supporting Team V members in mind, two of the club’s board members, Bonnie Martin, wife of Lt. Col. Jarod Martin, 1st Air and Space Test Squadron commander, and Heather Dunar, wife of Maj. Charles Dunar, 30th Comptroller Squadron commander, spearheaded a new Spouses’ Club organization called Cinderella’s Closet.
“Cinderella’s Closet will be a place where Airmen and their spouses, can come to borrow something to wear for a formal event,” said Dunar. “Our main goal is to increase attendance at all the military functions, and the want to attend events. People can dress up and not have to spend $300 for one evening. That’s a lot of money, especially for those with a family. There are so many events that I think a lot of spouses may not be able to attend because they can’t afford it.”
Anyone with base access can borrow a dress for free, provided they have it dry-cleaned before returning it.
“We will supply everything from gowns, sizes zero to 26, to shoes, jewelry, and purses, for free,” said Dunar. “All that we’re looking for is that the clothes are dry-cleaned and returned within the time restrictions. We just really want to make it easier for more Airmen and their family members to attend functions.”
The VSC aims to give back to our military community, but the club is not able to do so without the help of donations from base members and organizations, and the local community.
“We get all the clothes from people who are willing to donate,” said Martin. “The Thrift Store and Airman’s Attic have been very generous. Every time they get a new shipment in and they see there are gowns, they call us. It’s been nice to have a local community that’s been very willing to help out. We’re lucky it’s such a close-knit community.”
Dunar and Martin welcome any donations, and hope to officially open the doors to Cinderella’s Closet to all base members in time for the Air Force Ball.
“I think that people often assume that these types of things are only for enlisted members, but that’s not the case,” said Dunar. “We all can benefit from it. Nobody wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress for one event, so I that’s why our Cinderella’s Closet will be open to everybody in need.”
If you would like to donate to Cinderella’s Closet, please contact Heather Dunar at 831-537-8765.