MEDIA CONTEST: Volunteers Shine

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ACC MEDIA CONTEST --  Volunteers make a difference by giving their time. Last year, 734 base volunteers donated more than 50,000 hours to make Whiteman a better place. A volunteer can positively impact people's daily lives and several agencies are supported by their efforts.

Agencies such as: Airmen Against Drunk Driving, Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, Boy Scouts, chapel, Cub Scouts, dental clinic, Enlisted Spouses' Club, Family Support Center, Girl Scouts, Key Spouses, legal office, Medical Group, Officers' Spouses' Club, Retiree Activities, Spirit 4-H, tax center, teen center, Whiteman Elementary School, youth center, youth sports, and more enlisted plenty of volunteer help during 2005.

"If the commander paid to have the services our volunteers gave to the community during 2005, he would have had to render over $900,000," said Alan Stachowiak, Base Volunteer Coordinator. He made reference to the Points of Light Foundation study, which found a volunteer's time is worth approximately $18.04 an hour.

The Airman's Attic, which is operated by the Family Support Center and has as many as 15 volunteers, is a focal point for many volunteers. It is mainly because of the volunteers that the Attic has flourished in the last year.

The agency was in a slump until the Attic obtained new clothing racks, interior painting and had wooden storage shelves built, said Masy Mason, store volunteer.

Mrs. Mason is a volunteer seamstress and has repaired countless items that were slightly torn or had malfunctioning zippers.

Another base agency that receives a slew of volunteerism is the thrift store. Volunteers from the Whiteman Enlisted Spouses' Club and the Whiteman Officers' Spouses' Club make up the entire store operation, with the exception of the manager, who oversees that donated merchandise is clean and can be resold.

Because volunteers impact the military community by making it an enjoyable place to work and play, the base gave something back to them during a dinner held in their honor April 18. The guests were given certificates, door prizes and enjoyed music performed by the Central Missouri State University 'Lyrical Ladies' choir.

"We joined millions of Americans in celebrating National Volunteer Week, which was established 32 years ago when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order," Mr. Stachowiak said. "The volunteer reception was a way for the base to say 'thank you' to its volunteers since they are a significant part of what we do."

To learn more about volunteering or to become a volunteer call the Family Support Center at 687-7132