Malmstrom spouses club gives back

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Brosam
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The Malmstrom Thrift Store was reopened in September by the Malmstrom Spouses Club and they are ready for another year of giving back to the base.

According to Angie Folds, senior spouse mentor and store volunteer, the thrift store is a volunteer-only, non-profit operation held on base with all proceeds, with exception of small operating and insurance costs, going back to active-duty dependents and veterans to further secondary education.

Each May the spouses club awards scholarships based on the amount of money from thrift store sales received throughout the year. Individuals apply for the scholarships in January by submitting an essay and meeting certain requirements for the scholarship. The essay is later reviewed by a board of judges and the recipients are chosen.

A banquet is held for recipients and their families to attend to receive the award. Last year, the store raised enough money to give away more than $5,000 in scholarships to two recipients.

“In the first two months of this (fiscal) year, we’ve made more money than we did the entire year last year,” said Elizabeth Kasayka, thrift store chairman. “This year we should be able to give away even more.”

Taking care of Airmen and families is what the Air Force does, and this gesture of giving back is what being a wingman is about.

“We are trying to help Airmen achieve higher education by giving them scholarship money,” Folds said. “The Air Force promotes education at all levels and we’re trying to help make it less strenuous on families.”

The thrift store is located at Building 581 and is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, the thrift store staff accepts donations outside of normal operating hours and items can be dropped off inside the building lobby.

Folds and Kasayka encourage others to donate items to the store to assist them in raising money to support the Airmen. Items eligible for donation include furniture, clothing, shoes, books and toys for all ages.

For more information on scholarships or items for donation, contact the Malmstrom Thrift Store at 731-3213.