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Loan Locker under new management

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jason Wiese
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Members of the Air Force Sergeants Association Cowboy Chapter and base senior leadership gathered in the Airman and Family Readiness Center March 8 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony signifying the Loan Locker's switch from being managed by the AFRC to being managed by the AFSA Cowboy Chapter.

The Loan Locker provides household items for Airmen and their families to check out for free, allowing them to have necessities in their times of need, said Tech. Sgt. Josh Williams, AFSA Cowboy Chapter Airman activity coordinator advisor and member of the 90th Security Support Squadron.

Everything the Loan Locker offers, which includes items such as futons, vacuums, dishes, wheelchairs, crutches, etc., is available to check out for seven or 30 days. The Loan Locker is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, Williams said.

"The Airman and Family Readiness Center lost funding due to recent cutbacks and were going to cut the program," said Tech. Sgt. Andrea Jordan, 90th Contracting Squadron Government Purchase Card coordinator and AFSA Cowboy Chapter and AFSA member. "That's why we stepped in -- because it's something for the Airmen and it would have been a shame to see it go. It's Airmen helping Airmen."

"We're here to help, especially through sequestration. We're here for Airmen who need help and can't afford something at the time they need it," Williams explained.

Volunteers are needed to run the Loan Locker, and the AFSA Cowboy Chapter always looks for Airmen who want to help out, Williams added.

"Everyone has to keep pitching in to keep these things running," he said. "No one's going to help us out except for us."

Tech. Sgt. Joshua Hinsey, former AFSA Cowboy Chapter president and current member of the 90th Security Forces Squadron, learned of the impending closure of the Loan Locker and initiated the AFSA's takeover, Williams said.

The ribbon cutting was the culmination of the work done by prior and current AFSA Cowboy Chapter members.

Col. Christopher Coffelt, 90th Missile Wing commander, attended the ceremony and spoke a few words before the ribbon cutting.

"It is a huge benefit and one that's under-utilized in my opinion," he said. "They provide a really valuable service to our Airmen and their families."