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Show September 11, 2008 9 Glamming up for the ba LEE ANNE HENSLEY/Hilltop Times Above, Loretta Bernhardt, Air Force spouse, tries on a dress at the Airman's Attic, a dress loan program for civilians and Air Force personnel and their dependents. She was trying on dresses for the Air Force Ball. Top right, Luz Santiago (left) and Sandy Crandell try on gowns and look at some of the other choices. Right, Santiago looks closely at a red gown. Air Force Ball gowns at your fingertips BY LEE ANNE HENSLEY Hilltop Times staff I "It's like a reward for the spouses, too, for going out and working hard. You feel like Cinderella fora night because most of the time we're stuck at home cleaning all day. Its not every day that you get to dress up." f "not having a dress" is one reason for not attending the Air Force Ball on Sept. 19, you can cross that excuse off your list. The Airmen and Family Readiness Center, in Building 150, has a volunteer-run dress loan program available to all military, dependents and civilians at Hill Air Force Base. LORY JONES, Air Force spouse Myong Czop, wife of Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Czop, 388th Fighter Wing command chief, volunteers her time to organize tickets, dress and a babysitter, we appreciated, Czop said. However, the ball gown, dress shoes and couldn't afford it." if budget constraints do not allow purse loan program at the AFRC for this, the Officers Spouses Club Plus, with two formal events, and reports the variety of dresses donates funds to the dress loan such as the ALS graduation and and shoes available is impressive. program to cover some dry-clean- the Air Force Ball, scheduled "Most of our dresses are very nice ing fees. within weeks of each other, spousand worn only once before they es would feel pressured to buy The dress loan program is were dry-cleaned and donated to available year-round for any octwo different formal dresses for us," she said. casion. Teenage dependents can each occasion. With the dress loan use the dress loan program for To borrow a dress, or simply program, wives can borrow two prom and graduation ceremonies, separate dresses for each event browse the inventory, appointand others can use the dress loan ments are available Tuesdays, and not worry about wearing the program for any other special oc- same dress twice. Wednesdays and Thursdays becasion. tween 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. by callLory Jones also used the dress ing Czop weekdays, 8 a.m. until Military spouse, Loretta Berloan program to attend her hus5 p.m., at 820-5179. Making an nhardt, recently used the dress band's ALS graduation last month, appointment is necessary because loan program for her husband's but she plans to wear a dress the program is operated solely by Airman's Leadership School grad- from her own collection to the Air volunteers, so the days and hours uation ceremony. Force Ball this month. of operation can vary depending "There would have been no way "I love going to events like upon volunteer availability. I could have attended the gradua- this," Jones said. "It's like a retion (without this program)," she After borrowing a dress for an ward for the spouses, too, for said. "For a stay-at-home mom on going out and working hard. You occasion, dry-cleaning the dress before returning it to the AFRC is a senior Airman's pay to get the feel like Cinderella for a night, because most of the time we're stuck at home cleaning all day. It's not every day that you get to dress up." 'This is unique to the Air Force," Bernhardt added. "You don't get to do this very much in the civilian world, except for fundraising and charity events if you're rich. It's nice that the Air Force provides special events for their employees." Without this program, Jones and Bernhardt said they could not take the opportunity to enjoy the Air Force perk. For those who would like to donate a dress, Czop said donations are always appreciated. Please give the dresses to the AFRC front desk personnel during business hours to prevent damaging the donated item by leaving it out in inclement weather. |