Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We’d like to give a belated shout out to all of the amazing fathers in our community! If you are still looking for just the right gift for the dad in your life, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our cause in your dad’s honor. Also, please check out our web shop for some awesome T.H.R.I.V.E. merch for dad. We have our ever popular stress footballs in stock! 

Happy Flag Day, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! We would like to take a moment today to reflect on our Nation’s flag and all that it stands for in the lives of every American. 

Today also marks the 249th birthday of the United States Army, which was established this day in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress. We would like to give a special shout out to Army veterans today. Thank you for your courage and service.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the largest land, sea, and air invasion in history. Let us take a moment to give thanks to the brave men and women who served to ensure our freedom from tyranny. We are forever grateful for all of the sacrifices that our veterans made that day and beyond.

Photo: Courtesy of The National WWII Museum.

Mindful Memorial Day, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family. Today, we honor those brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to this great nation. Please take a moment today to reflect, mourn, and honor them, as well as the cost of the freedoms that we now share because of their sacrifices.

Happy Earth Day, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! Today we celebrate our one and only home – Earth. And like any home, we should put love, care, and protection into it! T.H.R.I.V.E. Association often receives handmade donations crafted with synthetic materials (i.e. acrylic or polyester), but we happily welcome handmade donations that are made with natural fibers such as cotton, bamboo, hemp, and linen.

Happy Monday, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family! March is Women’s history month and we’d be remiss if we didn’t honor the contributions from all of the women throughout history, especially those who have served our great nation! We are thankful for their service and sacrifices.

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)!

Happy Presidents’ Day, dear T.H.R.I.V.E. Association family. On this day, we celebrate George Washington’s birthday (Feb. 22), Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (Feb. 12), and all of those whom have served as president of the United States. Also, did you know that about two-thirds of our presidents were also veterans?