Focusworks celebrates program's service

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Melanie Holochwost
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Focusworks, the Luke Air Force Base supply center, will host a community appreciation day Tuesday at Bldg. 944.

"We are proud of our honored role of supplying America's war fighters with their mission needs," said April Lange, Focusworks unit manager. "We will be demonstrating that support and celebrating the 15th anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center Program nationwide."

Focusworks BSC is operated by Arizona Industries for the Blind, a nonprofit agency, which is part of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Ms. Lange said.

"Our store plays an all-important role in the day-to-day operations at Luke and the greater Phoenix metro area," she said. "The store provides a wide array of products such as the SKILLCRAFT® brand to servicemembers at Luke."

SKILLCRAFT® products are made by individuals who are blind or severely disabled. Proceeds from product sales strengthen the local economy and provide jobs for blind citizens.

Focusworks BSCs are part of the nationwide AbilityOne Program, which operates 138 base supply centers including Luke, Davis-Monthan AFB, and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
Ms. Lange said the program is largely self-sustaining and helps employ more than 40,000 people who are blind or disabled, an under-utilized workforce that holds a 70 percent unemployment rate.

"I am proud to say that I have been a part of Focusworks Base Supply Center for 12 years and appreciate the important role it plays at our local military bases," she said. "Focusworks and Luke have a positive social and economic impact on our community."

Ms. Lange said she is especially proud of her hard-working colleagues who are blind.

"They live in our local communities of Glendale, Avondale, Goodyear and Phoenix," she said. "They have gained independence through the service they provide to the military as Focusworks employees."