DAR Headquarters will be closed from March 16 to March 20. We will reopen on March 21. 

DAR members are passionate about supporting our active-duty military and veterans and they do so in a variety of ways.
  • At the national level, DAR support is focused on two groups: women serving in the military and the wounded military personnel at three locations: the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, Wounded Transition Brigade in Bethesda, Maryland, and Wounded Warrior and Family Support Center in San Antonio, Texas. In addition, phone cards are provided to chaplains in Afghanistan and at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, a 1A Mobilization Training Center for deploying troops.
  • Individual members and chapters support the men and women serving in conflicts abroad in any way appropriate. Activities range from adopting a platoon to sending care packages to relatives of chapter members or even providing boots and books for ground troops.
  • The DAR Hospital Corps certified 1,081 trained nurses for service during the Spanish-American War. DAR later funded pensions for many of these nurses who did not qualify for government pensions.
  • DAR members volunteer their time to provide assistance to veterans in both Veterans Administration hospitals and non-VA facilities and provide more than 200,000 hours of volunteer time to veterans annually.
  • The National Society DAR is one of the largest groups to serve on the Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) National Advisory Board and Executive Committee. The committee advises the Under Secretary for Health on matters regarding participation of volunteers at VA facilities. It assists with recruiting volunteers, suggests and prepares standardized orientation programs for facilities and keeps the officers and members of the committee informed of the needs of volunteers and of volunteer accomplishments at facilities around the country.
  • DAR is proud to be a founding partner of the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress. The purpose of the project is to collect and preserve audio/video oral histories, letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and home movies of America's war veterans and those who served in support of them.
  • DAR works with youth volunteers on veterans’ projects in local communities. Younger children make greeting cards, make tray favors, visit nursing homes, march in parades and help stuff ditty bags for stand downs. Older children volunteer at facilities, visit with and play games with veterans, help with craft/rehab activities, run errands for veterans, deliver meals, assist in veteran services offices on campus, deliver mail, and help decorate for the holidays.
  • Homeless Veterans and Operation Stand Down: DAR members serve homeless veterans by providing buddy bags containing non-perishable food items and personal care items. Volunteers collect, distribute, and deliver food to community shelters. During Operation Stand Down DAR volunteers serve meals, distribute clothing, work at information tables, help with medical and social screenings, and provide companionship to homeless veterans.
  • Vivian’s Outreach to Women is DAR's program that focuses on providing support to homeless and indigent women veterans. VOW results from a generous bequest from DAR member Vivian Luther Schafer and will fund awards made to 501(c)(3) organizations helping indigent, homeless women. Since its inception DAR has supported our military and its veterans, but our women veterans are presently an underserved and growing population. The DAR, through VOW Awards, will aid organizations/shelters helping women veterans in need of the following services: medical, educational, child care, housing, clothing, food, or other needs consistent with assisting these women to become self-sufficient in their communities.
  • Salute to Hospitalized Veterans: DAR members partner with and encourage school students, Children of the American Revolution members, and other youth in the community to make greeting cards for hospitalized veterans. The DAR delivers thousands of cards to facilities and volunteers plan special visits with hospitalized veterans during the month of February.
  • Holidays & Special Events: DAR members plan celebrations for hospitalized veterans to commemorate national holidays, special events, and veterans' birthdays. Parties, carnivals, and picnics for veteran-patients are organized to help lift spirits and provide diversions during hospital confinement. DAR members also serve on community veterans' committees that sponsor parades, and other patriotic events. Volunteers assist with military ceremonies of remembrance that are held at local VA facilities.
  •  Women Veterans: DAR volunteers give special support to our nation's women veterans, with an emphasis on the sick, the homeless, and the lonely. Chapters provide support and volunteer in special healthcare programs and in the Adopt-A-Veteran Program. Clothing is collected and donated to facilities for women veterans, as well as donations of gender-appropriate gifts and personal care items. Members provide support for maternity services for female veterans with gift baskets for the new baby and mother.
  • Golden Age Games: DAR members assist the sponsoring Veterans Affairs Medical Center with hosting the games each summer, including volunteering at the games as timekeepers, working information booths and food service booths, and acting as escorts for the athletes.
  • Extended Services: State-run veterans' facilities and programs and community-based programs are supported by DAR volunteers by providing the same types of service, volunteerism, and care as are provided in federal facilities. Volunteer service in state and community programs has increased significantly with the downsizing and closure of many federal facilities. Please explore these opportunities in your community.
  • Fisher House: Fisher Houses are "homes away from home" for the families of sick or injured military members and veterans. They are built by the Fisher House Foundation on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. The family of a veteran can stay in a Fisher House for a nominal charge (some have no charge) and be near the veteran while he or she convalesces. Fisher Houses need volunteers as well as financial support. This is truly a program where members envelop the veterans and their families in the circles of friendship, service, and commitment.
  • Thank You Cards for Our Veterans: DAR members distribute thank you cards to veterans during visits to VA facilities, shelters, and state facilities.  Veterans displaying veteran stickers on their cars or wearing caps noting their service are thanked as well.  DAR members find any occasion to thank our veterans for the tremendous sacrifice they have made for our freedom. 
  • Supporting Veterans from Home: Home volunteers sew items needed by facilities, including wheel chair bags, trachea bags, bibs, lap robes, and tote bags. Volunteers are urged to contact their local facility to inquire about what is needed and to obtain patterns and/or the dimensions for these handmade items. Party favors and tray favors are created and assembled by home volunteers. Personal care items, magazines, games, puzzles, and other gifts are collected by home volunteers for delivery to facilities. DAR home volunteers prepare handwritten cards and notes that are sent to facilities and distributed to veterans.

 

 

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Upcoming Events

  • Esther Perel
    - 8:00 PM
  • Heilung
    - 8:00 PM
  • John Mellencamp
    - 8:00 PM
  • Saturday Morning Cartoons
  • Women’s History Costume Party
  • Crystal Bowl Sound Bath

Learn how DAR members selflessly and tirelessly dedicated themselves to the war relief effort of World War I

Find special initiative opportunities for every interest and every budget!