Volunteers spread holiday cheer at Wright-Patt Club

  • Published
  • By Diane Kofoed
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  A visit to the Wright-Patt Club this season will provide no shortage of holiday cheer. Lights, snowmen, reindeer and a gift-filled sleigh can all be found at the club this time of year, thanks to the work of volunteers to decorate the club with holiday décor. Approximately 41 volunteers gathered Nov. 17-19 to put up holiday decorations throughout the Wright-Patt Club.

Volunteers work in partnership with the Officers' Spouses' Club and the Wright-Patt Club. Alex Duke, holiday decoration chairperson for the Officers' Spouses' Club, emphasizes that volunteers are not limited to only club members.

"Some people hear that it's in partnership with the Officers' Spouses' Club and think that only club members can volunteer but that's not what this [decorating] event is all about," Durke said. "We just want to have a lovely time, make new friends and spread some holiday cheer. Anyone is free to come and do that with us."

Volunteers gathered at the Wright-Patt Club to decorate over three days the week before the Thanksgiving weekend. According to Durke, decorating begins just before Thanksgiving Day in order for the Wright-Patt Club to be decorated once the holiday season has fully begun.

"The [Wright-Patt] Club has been so wonderful to us while   we're here decorating," said Durke. "They provide food for volunteers, and they help us to arrange times to come when not as many events are going on so no one is disturbed."

The decorations are owned and provided by the Wright-Patt Club, and the Officers' Spouses' Club provides a few new decorations to the previous years' collections every year. Bass Lake and the Twin Base Golf Course are also decorated by the Officers' Spouses' Club. The decorations can be seen until Jan. 5.

Volunteers are needed to take down decorations on Jan. 5. Durke said volunteers can arrive any time at the Wright-Patt Club after 9 a.m. that day.

"Also on the 'un-decorating day' the [Wright-Patt] Club very kindly provides the volunteers with breakfast pastries, refreshment throughout the day and lunch for the volunteers," she added.

Those interested in volunteering can contact Durke at 912-5741 or by emailing  jdurke@aol.com  .