Leading (and Giving) By Example
This extraordinary young leader is Diya from Dallas, Texas and she recently hand-delivered 85 blankets to Soldiers' Angels— handmade and store-bought— for our troops and veterans!
Diya, a Girl Scout, decided that she wanted to show support for our troops and veterans by encouraging her friends and family to participate in the Soldiers' Angels Blanket Drive. In the past couple of months, she held workshops to teach her Girl Scout Troop as well as a younger troop of Girl Scouts how to make "No-Sew" blankets. But she didn't stop there-- she even held a workshop for her brother and his friends to teach them how to make blankets when they were in need of volunteer hours.
In total, the young philanthropist facilitated the creation of 50 "No-Sew" blankets! She also received financial donations from friends and family to purchase an additional 35 blankets!
The completion of this project did not go unnoticed by her Girl Scout Troop-- Diya earned the Girl Scout's Silver Award for her project— the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. This award recognizes those who display that they are a leader who is organized, determined, and dedicated to improving their community.
Thank you, Diya! Not only did you do something amazing for our brave men and women in uniform, but you also led the way for other individuals in your community to give back!
The Soldiers' Angels Blanket Drive ends on August 31st, but we are nowhere near our goal of collecting 2,000 blankets for our troops and veterans.
Will you stand up for our heroes like Diya did and donate a blanket today?
This cozy star blanket is only $14.99 on Amazon. It would go a long way to spread warmth and love to a veteran in the hospital.
What to Include in a Care PackageYou know you want to send some love to a service member deployed overseas... But... What do you send? Soldiers' Angels volunteers have care packages down to an artful science and have developed a great list of items that will always be appreciated. Check out our fail-safe list of items to include in your care packages when you just don't know what to send. |
Sending Little Bits of LoveAngel Ann has been a member of the Soldiers' Angels Sewing and Crafting Team since 2012. She has created many different things for military heroes and their families-- but there is one piece in particular that stands out above the rest-- her American Flag blankets. In our recent blog, read more about Ann and all of the beautiful items she creates. |
“The blanket from Soldiers’ Angels is still a centerpiece of comfort in our living room in our new house. The children use it as a comfort item when needed to wrap themselves in ‘Daddy’s flag.’ It is a constant reminder of the legacy he left behind: be charitable, help others, be kind, be honest. These are things he left instilled in us, even as he forgot these things himself. He will always be remembered as our Hero.” — Diana and Family
In-Depth: The Impact of a Blanket
Brent was an Army veteran who supported Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in the early 2000’s. Diana, an Army veteran herself, met Brent while they were both stationed at Fort Stewart—but when it came time for deployments, Brent's unit was deployed to war and Diana's unit was not.
In addition to enduring combat-related injuries, Brent suffered the scars of war that continue to plague so many of our post-9/11 veterans—severe and often debilitating post-traumatic stress. Almost overnight, Diana was thrust into the unimaginable role of becoming the full-time caregiver of her wounded husband in addition to continuing her responsibilities of being a spouse, head of household, and mother to five children.
In May of 2013, Diana found Soldiers’ Angels. She immediately registered to receive support through the Soldiers’ Angels Women of Valor Team—a team of volunteers who offer continuous moral support and community to female caregivers of post-9/11 wounded, ill and injured service members. Connecting with a community of other caregivers experiencing the same trials and tribulations that she was experiencing was a huge source of support for Diana during some of her darkest times.
Sadly, Brent passed away in 2018. As soon as Soldiers’ Angels heard of his passing, the word was put out to our teams of Angel volunteers. A very talented Angel on the Sewing and Crafting Team (Angel Ann) created a beautiful, hand-knit, American flag blanket. The blanket was presented to Diana and her family and, as she mentions, still holds a prominent place in their living room and their hearts.
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