Thrift store volunteer earns quarterly award

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Lisa Minckler was recognized as the 509th Bomb Wing Volunteer of the Quarter, Oct. 28, by Col. Rickey Rodgers, 509th Bomb Wing vice commander, for her dedication in volunteering more than 275 hours as co-chairperson of the thrift store.

"Its service before self," Mrs. Minckler said. "I know it sounds cliché, but I enjoy helping the community and I hope it rubs off on others."

As the thrift store co-chair, the Air Force Global Strike Command volunteer oversees daily operations and maintains a budget exceeding $4,500. She standardized the volunteer schedules and duty descriptions for thrift store volunteers and created a detailed business agenda. She also delivered thousands of dollars of store profits to local charity organizations, along with leading the store to its largest one-day-of-sales profit in three years.

"I don't want to accept it individually," Mrs. Minckler explained. "I want to accept it on behalf of all the volunteers here and I think it is a wonderful honor."

With Mrs. Minckler's help, the thrift store's profits went directly to the base's spouses clubs' charitable accounts to improve Whiteman quality of life.

"I love working here," she said. "We have more than 20 officer and enlisted spouses who volunteer here. It's great, we get to come in and have a good time while helping out."

Mrs. Minckler is also a member of the Whiteman Enlisted Spouses Club, which focuses on public efforts, morale boosting and fundraising.

"Lisa is a hard worker who shows dedication in everything she does," Denise French, thrift store volunteer, said. "She's like the energizer bunny ... she keeps always on the move and never stops helping."