Upcoming Stand Downs!

Published: June 30, 2025  ~   0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family. We’ve got several very large Stand Down events coming up in quick succession! There is an urgent need for hats, scarves, mittens, lap blankets, etc., as these Stand Downs are in some of the coldest regions in the nation that we serve.

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 need yarn, or other supplies, please contact us through email at thriveassociation@thrivevets.org or by phone at (469) 427-9654. Please be aware that any communications are recorded. If you have donations and cannot make it to one of our in-person knitting groups, we are still continuing our policy of curbside pickup. Please contact us to schedule a pickup if you are in the DFW area. If you reside outside the DFW area and would like to make an in-kind donation, please contact us to make arrangements. Remember, even one lovingly handcrafted hat or scarf can make a huge difference in the life of an underprivileged veteran or their dependent(s)!

A Call for Donations

Published: June 23, 2025  ~   0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! Please consider making a one-time or monthly monetary donation to support our mission. All monetary donations are tax deductible and directly help to cover the costs of materials, shipping, and overhead. Check out our web-shop where you can show your T.H.R.I.V.E. pride with our branded stress footballs, t-shirts, and popular wristbands! No donation is too small, as every dollar goes to help further our mission of providing our great nation’s underprivileged military veterans and their dependents with lovingly handmade garments as they continue on their road to recovery from homelessness.

Thank You, Anchorage!

Published: June 16, 2025  ~   0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Anchorage, Alaska VA for inviting us to their Veterans Service Organization (VSO) Day last Wednesday. Our Chief Executive Officer got to meet so many of the wonderful veterans that we have proudly served for years and got to meet the incredibly dedicated VA staff there. Words are insufficient to express our gratitude for this opportunity and the lessons learned from Ms. Peggy Bateman and Ms. Jurileen Fex.

What we confronted in Anchorage was a very moving and eye-opening experience. As any of our volunteers and staff know, the Anchorage, AK Stand Down is always one of our biggest and also one of our favorites to serve. So many of us really don’t think about the homeless of Alaska, however it is a huge problem that we are committed to helping. During a walk through Delaney Park looking for the war monument, it was shocking to see all of the souls who were sleeping rough. This was particularly jarring, as this city is known for its below-freezing Winters and its dangerous wildlife (bears, moose, etc.), which we learned can (and often do) find their way into the city. We learned that Alaska has more veterans per capita than any other state in the Union and were shocked at the high cost of living in Alaska. Factors such as these make it increasingly harder for those experiencing homelessness to recover.

After this experience, we are more committed than ever to end homelessness in our veteran community in Alaska and every other state in the Union! Let us redouble our efforts to make this goal a reality!

Onward to Alaska!

Published: June 9, 2025  ~   0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family. We’re off to Anchorage, Alaska today for the Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Day event on Wednesday. Stay tuned for updates!

Anchorage, Alaska here we come!

Published: June 2, 2025  ~   0

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! Next week we’ll be in Anchorage, Alaska for a meet and greet with the veteran community that we serve there. We are super excited to be invited to this fantastic event! Stay tuned for updates!