News>Feature - Team Andrews family comes together after fire
Story at a Glance
• Showcasing the Team Andrews spirit, service members, spouses and community members came together to provide everyday items these families lost in the fire.
Photos
Senior Airman Amy Breeden, 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operator, organizes food and household items March 30. The items were donated to the Andrews Attic in support of families effected by a base housing fire that occurred March 29. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Laura Turner)
Volunteers sort through piles of clothes March 30 that were donated to the Andrews Attic in support of families effected by a base housing fire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Laura Turner)
Senior Airmen Harry Renninger and Amy Breeden, 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operators, help fold sheets March 30 that were donated to the Andrews Attic in support of families effected by a base housing fire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Laura Turner)
A Prince George’s County firefighter takes off his self-contained breathing mask after fighting a house fire here March 29. Firefighters from the 11 CES and two stations in Prince George's County fought the flames that damaged multiple surrounding homes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)
11th Civil Engineer Squadron and Prince George’s County firefighters search for house embers that could reignite flames March 29. Firefighters from the 11 CES and two stations in Prince George’s County fought the flames that ended up damaging multiple homes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)
11th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters use the bumper turret on an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighter truck to extinguish a house fire here March 29. Firefighters from the 11 CES and two stations in Prince George's County fought the blaze that ended up in multiple damaged homes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Perry Aston)
by Senior Airman Laura Turner
11th Wing Public Affairs
4/5/2012 - JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- After a fire in base housing destroyed a row of town homes March 29, several Team Andrews families escaped with not much more than their lives. No lives were lost, and only two people were treated for minor injuries related to the fire.
Showcasing the Team Andrews spirit, service members, spouses and community members came together to provide everyday items these families lost in the fire.
The Andrews Attic, which provides second-hand household items for enlisted members, resembled a pre-holiday department store March 30 as Team Andrews members brought in load after load of donations for the effected families.
"The families were very appreciative of all the donations," said Andrews Attic Manager Tesha Black. "Whether it was monetary donations, gift cards, furniture or household items, the effected families were very overwhelmed with the kindness of the community."
Piles of clothes lined every wall, food was stacked to the ceiling and furniture came in by the truck-load for several days after the fire. Volunteers, including some friends and neighbors of the effected families, helped sort and place the donations.
"Community, defined as a 'unified body of individuals,' is a true descriptor of the Team Andrews family," said Col. Gregory Rosenmerkel, 11th Mission Support Group commander. "I'm proud to see our family come together in this time of need to lend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters displaced by the fire."
Opportunities are still available for those that would still like to contribute to this cause. The attic received an abundance of donations and will host a donation sale at 9 a.m. on April 9. Funds received, as well as gift card or cash donations, will be given to the families effected by the fire.
Volunteers are needed to help organize the items and are requested to be at the attic by 7 a.m. For more information, call 301-981-9665 or email andrewsafbattic@gmail.com.
