Event supports military families ahead of MP ball
Operation Deploy Your Dress (ODYD), part of the Fort Leavenworth Spouses’ Club, hosted a special event with Army Corrections Brigade to support military families Aug. 10 at the Resiliency Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Spouses and active-duty members of Army Corrections Brigade preparing for the upcoming Military Police Ball participated in a shopping experience where they selected formal wear from donated dresses and accessories while volunteers assisted them in finding the perfect ensemble for the occasion.
ODYD’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for military families by providing free formal wear, making it easier for more spouses to participate in military traditions such as balls, socials, and receptions.
“By providing free formal wear, we’re able to involve more spouses in the traditions of the military,” said Meredith McKenzie, ODYD coordinator for the Fort Leavenworth Spouses’ Club. “This initiative helps offset the high costs of attending these formal events, which can be a significant expense for many military families.”
The event featured about 500 formal gowns in various colors, sizes and styles. It was the first private shopping experience explicitly organized for a unit at Fort Leavenworth by the newly formed organization.
Upon arrival, volunteers greeted attendees with cupcakes and lemonade provided by Mad Hatter Cakes and Parties and Association of the U.S. Army, and music from a playlist selected by unit chaplains. Guests could try on dresses in dressing rooms, where they could bring two dresses at a time and view their selections using mirrors placed outside the rooms.
Attendees with valid military IDs were eligible to select one free dress and one accessory from the extensive collection available.
Volunteer Juniper Huggard, a sophomore at Kansas State University from Fort Leavenworth, was home with her sister and roommate, Ariel, to help with the event.
“I really like fashion, and so I like being able to help women feel more confident in their own skin. Putting on a dress for them feels like having a new embodied energy, almost like they can walk out confidently,” Huggard said. “An event like this is necessary for people who don’t have the money to just go out on a whim and spend $300 on a dress. It takes a load off their shoulders, which is very important for the community.”
In addition to the extensive selection of gowns, guests could choose accessories, including shoes, earrings, necklaces and handbags. This approach aimed to ensure attendees could find something that suited their style and needs.
Makeup and skincare products, donated by community organizations and coordinated by Stronghold Food Pantry, were also available for attendees.
Melissa Kreitzer, Army Corrections Brigade event organizer, said the event was a collaborative effort.
“We worked as a team with our community partners to make this happen,” she said. “The donation of skincare and makeup, valued at almost $4,000, allowed us to provide a full beauty experience.”
The event also served as a platform for military spouses to connect and support one another. Sara Peru Navarrete, a spouse and hairstylist, expressed how the event impacted her.
“I attended this event to have other ladies encourage me to try on other dresses that I would probably never try on,” she said. “This made me feel a little more confident in myself.”
Savannah Crowson, a spouse and teacher, said she found the event valuable for networking and community building.
“I think it’s important because it brings the community together, allows you to meet other spouses, and network with people you can relate to,” Crowson said. “Everyone was super helpful and nice, and it was an excellent experience.”
Kreitzer agreed.
“Seeing so many military families benefit from the free formal wear and accessories has been incredibly rewarding,” Kreitzer said. “It’s moments like these that truly show the strength and support of our community.”
ODYD is currently accepting dress and accessory donations to support its ongoing efforts. Menswear donations are also welcomed. Anyone wishing to contribute can drop off items in the donation box in Fort Leavenworth Frontier Heritage Communities’ lobby on Hancock Avenue or arrange a porch pickup by messaging the ODYD Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ people/Fort-Leavenworth-Operation-Deploy-Your-Dress/61557231476171/. ODYD also seeks volunteers to assist with its monthly pop-ups and other events.
Fort Leavenworth’s ODYD grand opening is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14, 2024, at the Resiliency Center. The event will feature shopping opportunities for military ID card holders, refreshments, door prizes and other giveaways. For more information, e-mail ODYDFLSC@gmail.com.
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