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Vandenberg Thrift Shop is here to help
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Vandenberg AFB Thrift Shop is a non-profit private organization whose mission statement is clear: "The purpose of the Thrift Shop is to raise money for donations to charitable organizations and any other organization significantly serving the military community."
The volunteers, senior advisors and employees who over see and operate the Thrift Shop take this mission to heart. Over the past ten years, the Thrift Shop has donated nearly a quarter of a million dollars to various organizations.
During the last fiscal year, the Thrift Shop donated $22,927 dollars in response to 35 selected requests. The requests came from a wide range of organizations in support of many different events. The organizations include the Vandenberg Spouses Club, local schools, wing and squadron booster clubs and the Lompoc Police Department.
More than $9,000 was provided to VAFB organizations directly supporting Airmen in events such as award ceremonies, holiday parties, Wingman Day and the Quarterly Birthday Meal Program.
Nearly $5,000 was given in direct support to the military family for VSC scholarships and memberships, library reading programs, soccer programs, family carnivals and "Breakfast with Santa" events.
In addition, more than $8,000 was donated to area schools, in particular: Cabrillo High School received support for its drama, music and fitness programs; Crestview Elementary School obtained lunch tables and a document camera; and Taylor Elementary School bought Weekly Readers teaching curriculum.
What made all of this possible was the more than 41 volunteers providing 3,194 hours of support during the 2009 - 2010 fiscal year. Eight of these Volunteers gave more than 100 hours each, two of them, Maria Evans and Marie Slater, volunteered 467 and 331 hours respectfully. The volunteers come from both the local retired military community and active duty families assigned to Vandenberg.
For more information or to volunteer at the Thrift Shop, call 606-3128. Thrift Shop hours of operation are from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.