Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! Please keep your donations coming for the upcoming Stand Down events starting in September. The expected turnouts of underprivileged veterans and their dependents are even larger than last year at these Stand Downs and we need your support! Also, remember to follow these simple guidelines when crafting a garment for our veterans and their dependents:

As crafters, it is sometimes tempting to use flashy colored yarns/textiles, color work, and fancy stitches in our crafted goods. However, these qualities are by and large not desired by the community that we serve. These proud individuals tend to prefer darker colors and straight-to-the-point garments. We want to provide them with what they need. The vast majority want either straight camouflage or solid blacks, blues, greens, grays, reds, and royal purples. If you have your heart set on practicing your color work, then sports team colors are always a fan favorite.

When you donate your handcrafted gifts to T.H.R.I.V.E. Association for us to disseminate at VA Stand Downs, the veterans and their dependents are ultimately the ones who chose what they will accept. Please understand that we are not trying to be persnickety or impose arbitrary rules. Over the years, we have witnessed numerous instances at Stand Downs where veterans would rather leave empty handed (in freezing temperatures no less) than accept garments that they deemed were undignified. This is always so heartbreaking! Therefore, it is essential to always keep the recipient of every handcrafted gift in mind.

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We’re already halfway through August and there is a great need for more hats, scarves, mittens, gaiters, and lap blankets. Your crafted donations help to support Stand Down events nationwide that directly benefit our underprivileged military veterans and their dependents. Please send in your donations ASAP (or make arrangements to schedule a pickup with us if you are in the DFW area). The sooner we receive your donated garments, the sooner we can thoroughly process them for the upcoming shipments to these Stand Downs. You can also make a monetary donation to help us cover the costs of shipping, materials, and overhead.

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! There are multiple Stand Down events coming up soon. Each of these Stand Downs are requesting even more hats, scarves, mittens, gaiters, and lap blankets than in previous years to support the homeless veteran communities that they serve. Please send in your donations as soon as possible (or make arrangements to schedule a pickup if you are in the DFW area).

If you would like to donate a hat, scarf, lap blanket, or other handcrafted garment to our cause, please remember that the dear veterans and their dependents prefer dark colors (e.g. blue, black, green, grey, and all-time favorite, camouflage). If you would like to knit, crochet, or sew a garment in a brighter color, red or deep purple are always popular bright colors. We cannot emphasize this important point enough: please do not use sparkly or overly decorative yarns and fabrics. While they have their place, they are simply inappropriate for the veterans and their dependents (including children because of choking hazards).

If you are not a crafter, but would like to help, there are still many ways to support our cause! Please consider donating materials and/or making a monetary donation to help us cover the costs of materials, shipping, and overhead.

If you have donations and are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, we are still continuing our policy of curbside pickup. Please contact us to schedule a pickup. If you reside outside the DFW area and would like to make an in-kind donation, you can ship your donations to us here in Dallas. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat or scarf can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent(s)!