Hobby shops to close this month Published Feb. 7, 2014 By Brian Shreve Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The Auto Hobby Shop and Wood Skills Shop - two popular fixtures at Robins - will be closing Feb. 15 due to cuts to the appropriated fund budget. The closings are indicative of those around the Air Force due to budget cuts which were expected, but not this soon, according to Kent Jenkins, 78th Force Support Squadron Community Support Flight chief. "They weren't supposed to happen for a couple years," he said. "However, due to things like sequestration and the government shutdown last October, Air Force Materiel Command made the decision to cut these funds now. Unfortunately our resources are exhausted at this point." Jenkins said efforts were underway which would place the closing shops' employees in other areas within the 78th Force Support Squadron which could use their skills. "They've been with us for a long time, so we want to take care of them," he said. "They're very skilled employees, and we don't want to lose them to someone downtown." Due to cuts in early 2013, both shops have already mostly been operated by volunteers. The hopes are that the closings will be temporary while other options are explored, Jenkins said, though there's no guarantee at this point. "We're continuing to research possibilities to maintain them, looking for other avenues," he said. "But there are a series of approvals that have to be obtained before we can do that." Both shops were known for providing do-it-yourself convenience for the past 20 years or so, places where Airmen could access equipment and expert instruction for a minimal fee. The wood shop manager will likely be staying on, Jenkins said, and that the shop will still operate in some capacity to provide various types of specialty woodwork still needed at the base.