Mary Nordenson
Operation Support is a volunteer non-profit organization coordinating baby showers across the country for moms-to-be whose husbands from any branch of the military are currently deployed. Annually, there are 17 showers each hosting 40 mothers-to-be.
Since 2016, The Yarn Divas have coordinated efforts with The Material Girls and The Sassy Stampers to donate handmade items for the baby shower. This donation includes individual handmade cards for both the mothers-to-be and a thank you card to their husbands for their service to the United States of America. Each mother-to-be receives a box of handmade items in addition to car seats, etc. from the corporate sponsor. This year, we sent 372 handmade items plus 40 cards for the moms-to-be and 40 cards of thanks for the husbands who are deployed. Items sent included: baby blankets knitted and/or crocheted, baby blankets quilted and/or sewn, baby hats and booties, baby sweaters and hat sets, baby bibs, burp cloths and washcloths, blankets with ribbons for toys; cloth rabbit, thank you for your service cards by Sassy Stampers and Mother’s Card by Diana Krug.
In 2017, natural disasters caused HEB, the corporate sponsor for the Fort Hood Operation Shower, to postpone the baby shower until February 28, 2018. Shirley McCrory, co-chairman of Operation Shower at Robson, will be attending the February shower as a volunteer along with Nancy Chorba, to deliver our donations.
A special thank you to everyone for your contributions and on-going support of this heartfelt project. New handmade donations for October 2018 are new being accepted by Mary Nordenson or Shirley McCrory.
The Yarn Divas Mission: To support local community organizations and Support Our Troops activities and for members to share their expertise in knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch, needlework, embroidery with new members through the following:
• One on one support and skill demonstration
• Field trips to local yarn stores
• References and resources in using and buying yarn.
• To offer a social outlet and friendship for Robson Ranch residents.
• To collaborate with other Robson ranch committees when feasible to benefit the community.
The Yarn Divas have several ongoing service projects with donated items going primarily to support Denton county residents. A few exceptions are Operation Baby Shower and Support our Troops (SOT). Other one-time projects also support recognized programs and causes such as the Knitted Knockers Cancer initiative, the Oklahoma Shaking Baby Syndrome and the American Heart Association Little Hats Big Hearts initiative.
The Yarn Divas also donate yarn to Daily Bread who make gloves, scarves and hats for the homeless. Other yarn and supplies are given to SCRAPS when donations to the Yarn Divas doesn’t align with our service project needs.