Confessions of a "thrift shop newcomer"

  • Published
  • By Jennie Sheffe
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  I have four kids who seem to grow into the next size overnight. Their ideas of what's "cool" change even faster. I can't even count how many jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts and lunchboxes must be scattered across Solano County, courtesy of my children.

I am no stranger to thrift stores and bargain hunting. I must admit that until last month, I had never visited our own Travis Community Thrift Shop.

Why is this shameful? Because I am a member of Travis' Officers Spouses Club and I'm the one who puts a blurb about the thrift shop in the TOSC newsletter every month, telling people how to volunteer and how much the proceeds benefit the TOSC and Travis Enlisted Spouses Club, groups which turn around and use that money to support our military family and surrounding communities.

No more shame. I did it. I signed up to volunteer for a bag sale, but I almost didn't show up. I only had half an hour in my day to give to them. I thought, "How can I accomplish anything worthwhile in that short amount of time?"

The warm welcome from other volunteers and employees erased that thought from my head immediately. I suspect they would have been grateful to put me to work even if I only had 15 minutes to give. Anyone can volunteer not just members of OSC or ESC. They will even reimburse for child care!

While I'm at it, I must confess that I knew the thrift shop moved to a new location, 560 Hickham Ave., Bldg. 247. I heard it was a nice, organized facility, located "behind the pool." Have you ever tried to get to the buildings behind the pool? You have to turn toward the flightline on First Street and then turn left on Waldron. I was afraid I'd never find it, but there are clearly marked signs pointing the way. Even when I was in the parking lot, I doubted that I was in the right place, but the signs cleared up any confusion.

I advertise the bag sales and I don't even know what that means. It blew me away to see that they were allowing people to cram paper grocery bags chock-full to overflowing with clothing items and then charging a mere $5 for the whole bag. In fact, my job as a volunteer was to roll the clothing as tightly as humanly possible, in order to maximize space in the bag. If the bag was only half full, they only charged $2.50 for it. If it was overflowing, the extra was taped down tightly so it would stay in the bag and they still only charged $5.

I was secretly hoping there'd be a lull in the volunteer work so I could do some shopping of my own.

The bag sales are all about clothing, but the thrift shop sells a little bit of everything. Think about all the boxes you unpacked when you got here and said to yourself, "Why did we move this?" Or the curtains you have that fit your last two homes but don't fit this one? Military families re-invent their homes each time they move, so it makes sense a military thrift shop would offer a wide variety of gently used stuff.

My garage is full of stuff that could be donated. Someday I will get organized enough to drop it off. The thrift shop makes it easy - it accepts donations anytime and there is a clearly marked place to leave them.

In November, the thrift shop is opening a career closet which will be open to spouses who attend a workshop at the Airmen and Family Readiness Center or stop by the career center looking for a job. Each spouse will receive a voucher to shop for three pieces of clothing.

The next time one of your bundles of joy decides to leave just one shoe at the commissary or decorates your favorite pair of pants with permanent marker, you just might find a suitable replacement and then some at the Travis Community Thrift Shop.