KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Kirtland Thrift Shop is celebrating 68 years of operation during the month of February.
U.S. Air Force Col. David S. Miller, 377th Air Base Wing commander, recognized Thrift Shop volunteers and employees Jan. 25, 2019, with his coin and a certificate naming and thanking each of them.
The Thrift Shop currently operates with 31 volunteers and three employees. Frank Capuano, Thrift Shop manager, says the team work of those 31 volunteers keeps everything together.
“[Since June 1, 2019] we have accumulated about 4,800 volunteer hours,” said Capuano. “It takes about 8,000 volunteer hours to operate the Thrift Shop during our 144 days of operation each year. That translates into about 56 volunteer hours required for each four-hour day of operation.”
Ruth Loynd, Thrift Shop volunteer, has been helping customers since 1985.
“After our kids graduated from college, I decided to do something that helps,” said Loynd. “[The Thrift Shop] helps give scholarships and other things to the base.”
The Thrift Shop is able to do give scholarships and grants by operating as a non-profit through the Kirtland Spouses’ Club.
“The Thrift Shop is a component of the 501c3 side of the KSC and operates under the auspicious of the KSC,” said Capuano. “All of the money we raise is awarded by the KSC Welfare Board in accordance with the requirements of a 501c3. The money is awarded as part of the KSC philanthropy programs of College Scholarships and Grants.”
This fiscal year, the Thrift Shop has raised more money than expected.
“[Since June 1, 2019] we have raised more than $15,000,” said Capuano. “This is unusually high. We think this is due to a combination of more frequent promotion and communication, as well as more cleaning and better organization of the Thrift Shop.”
The Thrift Shop is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will have cookies for shoppers and consigners during the week of Feb. 3, 2020 to celebrate 68 years of operation.
For more information, visit www.kirtlandspousesclub.com or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kscthriftshop/.