This is the second of a two part series on the Fort Gordon Swap and Assist Shop.

Ruth Chandler is the originator of the Fort Gordon Swap and Assist Shop.

She relates how she came up with the idea as she traveled with her military spouse.

According to Chandler, at the 7th Corps Commanders Conference, the commanding general had the conferees visit the swap shop for a tour and briefing. "He gave each of them a copy of the SOP [Standard Operating Procedures] and suggested they consider opening similar operations in their own military kascmcs," Chandler explained.

"At our departure farewell I received the United States Army Europe Volunteer of the Year award and my husband claimed that though he served as the 7th Corps Signal Officer, he was primarily known as "the guy that accompanied the Swap Shop lady to Germany,"' she explained.

Chandler opened her second Swap Shop at Fort Huachuca in 1980.

A year later the Chandlers were transferred to Fort Gordon where they retired. The Fort Gordon Swap and Assist Shop was opened by Chandler in 1981. Retired Marine Warrant Officer Tom Drenkhahn, the assistant manager, as well as Jeannie Daines, the floor manager, and six volunteers help her run it.

The Swap and Assist shop is open to all military, retirees, their Family members as well as allied military personnel training at Fort Gordon and local region high school Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets.

Donated items such as clothing, shoes, baby items and other household goods are available free of charge to military members in the grade of E-4 and below. Military members in the grade of E-5 or above, as well as their Family members, can shop there, but they need to bring merchandise of equal value to swap.

According to Chandler, most of the merchandise is donated by military Families departing Fort Gordon.

The Swap and Assist Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Thursday for authorized customers. Swap and Assist volunteers conduct a shop preparation work day each week to prepare the shop for each Thursday customer day.

The shop closed 2 p.m. June 18 for summer break, but will reopen 10 a.m. Aug. 20, said Chandler.

"We will continue to accept donations of clean, usable clothing, baby items and household items throughout the summer," Chandler said.

"We take most everything except lawnmowers with gas, weapons and ammunition," she explained. All donations can be placed in our drop box which is located next to the Swap and Assist Shop."

Although the shop will be closed for summer break, special assistance may be provided by referral and arrangements through the post Army Community Service Office. "Shop services remain available throughout the week to provide emergency services to military personnel and their Families, Chandler added. "Military Families arriving without personal goods, experiencing a home fire or delayed arrival of shipped goods can contact Army Community Services at (706) 791- 3579. ACS maintains a key to the shop."

Chandler and her staff are always ready to offer assistance where needed. In one instance, she helped a military spouse replace her husband's physical training uniform which was taken while he was in the shower.

According to Chandler, normally 50 to 90 Families use the shop each day of operation and their busiest season is during the fall when children are returning to school.

The shop staff are unpaid volunteers and most are in the 60's or older, said the manager.

"Four of our current volunteers including Tom [Drenkhahn] and myself are 60 or older, and five volunteers are now spouses of active duty Soldiers," Chandler added. "As a result of the recent increase in volunteers, we won't be accepting additional shop volunteer applicants until after the summer break. Interested volunteers should continue to register through Lynn Harshmann, ACS volunteer coordinator, at (706) 791-3880. This will ensure their names and telephone numbers will automatically show up on the Fort Gordon Department of the Army Website as current applicants when Swap and Assist volunteer positions are reopened.

Chandler's sincere concern for Soldiers and their Families has been demonstrated over 24 years through her continued volunteer service in ACS. She has not only served as a volunteer with ACS, but also in the military community as an income tax advisor, Christmas House coordinator, and has held key positions in the former Officers' Wives Club and the Retired Officers' Auxiliary.

At the Fort Gordon annual "Top 100 Volunteer Luncheon" which was held April 23, 2009 Chandler received the Distinguished Honor Award and Drenkhahn was given the Community Service Award.

Chandler was also nominated for the Emma Baird Award by the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command for her service in many ACS programs at Fort Gordon and throughout the world. As the first Fort Gordon recipient of the award in April 2000, the highest Department of the Army award for volunteer service, she admits the most heartwarming recognition is received through the expressions of appreciation by young Soldiers and their Families.

"As long as I am physically able to do the work I will continue to help our military Families," said Chandler.