GCSC opens new thrift store

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Breonna Veal
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Goodfellow Combined Spouses' Club celebrated the grand opening of the GCSC Soldiers Airman Marines Sailors Thrift Store Jan. 16 at Bldg. 736.

SAMS Thrift Store, which is run by the GCSC, resells items to Team Goodfellow members at a discounted price. The GCSC's purpose is to support and improve the base by building a strong support network, and to promote a sense of community amongst Team Goodfellow spouses.

"The thrift is going to be new to Goodfellow because in the past it was just SAMS," said Kim Schmidt, GCSC mentor. "We've renamed it the SAMS Thrift store and it's a shopping store for military members and their families to come buy items at garage sale prices."

SAMS Thrift Store was originally known as SAMS Place where free items available to military members, grades E-1 to E-4.

Items on sale at the thrift store are donated items by anyone who has base access including clothing items, bedding and sheets as well as home furniture, added Kim Schmidt. The items are in good shape, with no holes or stains.

Although the items are individually priced they are subject to change based on customer needs.

"We also accommodate military members who are in need," said Kim Schmidt. "The GCSC has reached out to the first sergeants council, Airman and Family Readiness Center, base chapel and other organizations to help reach out to military members who are in need to let them shop for free."

According to Kim Schmidt, the GCSC had their eyes on this project since fall last year and to some it was a well-deserved victory.

"This thrift store is a long time coming," said Kim Schmidt. "We were offered this opportunity by the wing in September, and a lot of people have stepped up to the plate. Everything that was done to this store was all done by volunteers, from the painting on the wall to the cashiers."

A portion of the proceeds will generate funds that go back to the store as well as to help fund scholarships for Team Goodfellow members.

"The GCSC wanted to turn the old SAMS Place into a Thrift Store to somehow give back to the base," said Col. Thomas Schmidt, 17th Training Wing Vice Commander. "This facility is an all-volunteer facility; no one works here, makes money or walks away with a paycheck. This is all about volunteerism, helping out and giving back to the base."

After saying congratulations to all the GCSC members, Col. Schmidt and the GCSC members participated in the ribbon-cutting outside the building, after which the GCSC served refreshments and show cased items to be sold in the store with a fashion show.