When someone talks about a thrift store, it can conjure up the old expression about one man's junk being another one's treasure and so on. But in reality, that is the truth. One man wandered into the JBLM-McChord Field thrift store to browse and wound up finding the spark plugs for his old Cadillac that he couldn't find anywhere else. When checking out he beamed at the cashier and exclaimed, "For 20 years I've been searching for these!"

That level of satisfaction is why the store is so popular and also why the staff enjoys their work. The Air Force's thrift shop is a non-profit run by the base's Officers Spouses' Club (OSC) and aside from two paid positions, it is staffed entirely by volunteers.

"We couldn't do what we do without the volunteers," said Leslie Long, OSC vice president. "This place is truly run by them."

Over a 12-month span, those volunteers have worked just under 7,600 hours and the results are more impressive than that. Last year, the store donated more than $35,000 to the OSC welfare fund, which gives the money to various foundations, causes and charities that have applied to the OSC board for assistance. In the past, some of those charities have included the Tacoma Rescue Mission, Operation Purple, the National Military Family Association and the LeMay Foundation.

Additionally, the OSC's welfare fund takes care of things close to home by donating to programs like Team McChord Summer Reading, the USO McChord Center and the base chapel, which hosts deployed family dinners. The OSC's biggest endowment, which is made possible by the thrift store's success, goes toward annual scholarships awarded to Air Force high school seniors. In 2009, $20,000 went toward higher education for these young adults.

So whether you need to clear out your garage, you're prepping for a PCS or you just want to help out by shopping, visit the thrift store. More volunteers are always needed and childcare vouchers are provided to volunteers during the hours they work.

The Thrift Store, which is located in Building 717 on JLBM-McChord Field, is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is also open the first Saturday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Consignments are also accepted on those days from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information, call (253) 982-2468 during hours of operation.

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