Deploying America’s Patriotism One Dress At A Time
ODYD to Launch Bridal Edition!
Operation Deploy Your Dress (ODYD): Bridal Edition will launch in early June providing the opportunity for members of our military community and soon-to-be military spouses to deploy a brand new bridal gown from the comfort of their own homes!
Operation Deploy Your Dress began at Fort Bliss in late 2015 with the support and partnership of the ODYD founders and the Fort Bliss Spouses’ Club. Since its creation ODYD’s mission has been to deploy America’s patriotism one dress at a time and with an all-volunteer staff ODYD has deployed over 14,000 dresses to military service members and eligible dependents around the world.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the course of what the ODYD leadership team had planned for 2020 and the ODYD shops located on key military installations across the country were closed in March 2020. During this time the ODYD team of volunteers made up of ODYD team members and volunteers from 10 Spouses’ Clubs across all of our shop locations joined forces to ensure that when it came time to re-open the shops – we would be ready. In addition to all the efforts behind the scenes, ODYD National team was planning for a new arm of it’s program – Bridal.
Join our Virtual Launch Event on June 3rd, 2021 at 4pm EST.
RSVP: ODYD Bridal Edition Launch Event
Our Mission
Deploying America’s Patriotism One Dress at a time since 2016!
Our Story
ODYD began at Fort Bliss in late 2015, when founders Renee Chapman, Ronya Rendon, Yvonne Coombes, Liz McKenrick and Melissa Riely
decided to organize a dress swap among their units’ spouses, as a way to defray the costs associated with purchasing formalwear for holiday balls.
It wasn’t long before the idea became an organization, run entirely by volunteers. With the support of Fort Bliss’ Garrison Command and the Fort Bliss Spouses’ Club, ODYD set up a location next to the thrift shop. Soon, other installations expressed interest, and within one year, ODYD opened at Fort Eustis, VA, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
ODYD now has 10 shops, with two shops having been opened on Fort Hood and Fort Drum in 2020
and its first international location that will be opening in Germany when it is safe to do so.
Deploy Your Dress
We collect new and gently used formal gowns and accessories at our 8 locations. Click the link to find out where you can deploy your dress.
Deploy Your Funds
We made a conscious decision not to charge anything for the dresses we deploy, but it takes money to run our shops & provide this service.
Deploy Your Talent
Join the FUN! Bring your expertise to our team, fundraising, web design, accounting, marketing, graphic design and so much more!
ODYD is proud to partner with Wreaths Across America and Poptivism to provide unique opportunities to our community to support ODYD and give back throughout the year!