Activities

Lakewood’s Blue Spruce Chapter, NSDAR, endeavors to make a difference in our community through activities and projects designed to promote the three pillars of service established as objectives of the DAR:

HISTORIC PRESERVATION   •   EDUCATION   •   PATRIOTISM

Some of our projects and events are ongoing. Others occur only once. But all are opportunities for our members to get to know each other as friends and to create a stronger, better community in which we live. Shown here are just a few of the activities and projects our chapter has participated in over the past few years.

Although our chapter has been involved with numerous projects, we would like to start by sharing our chapter’s signature project: The Welcome Home First Night Boxes. This project is the idea of one dedicated, hard-working, and creative Blue Spruce Chapter, NSDAR, member who devotes hours each month to gathering donations, knitting lap robes and dishcloths, and preparing and delivering these boxes for veterans.

BLUE SPRUCE CHAPTER, NSDAR, ACTIVITIES

OUR SIGNATURE PROJECT: WELCOME HOME FIRST NIGHT BOXES 

The Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program provides homeless veterans and their families with permanent housing along with programs to help them sustain their new lifestyle. However, as these formerly homeless vets are transitioned into their apartments, many spend that first night without the bare necessities.

Our Welcome Home First Night Boxes contain items that are needed for their first night and morning in their apartment. Items included in these boxes are toilet paper, blanket, bath and hand towel, washcloth, small pan, soap, coffee mug, dish, cutlery, dishcloth, instant coffee, noodles, oatmeal, shower curtain and hangers, can opener, toothbrush and toothpaste, an American flag, and a Welcome Home greeting letter from the Blue Spruce Chapter, NSDAR, thanking the veterans for their service to America.

More than 1,000 Welcome Home First Night boxes were distributed by the end of 2022. This is an ongoing project with boxes being given to veterans every month.

Blue Spruce Chapter, NSDAR, is proud to assist to these formerly homeless veterans, and we are proud of our members for their support. We are making a difference one box at a time.

PRIOR AND ONGOING PROJECTS

The following is a sampling of our other activities:

​​ PATRIOTISM

  • Celebrate June 14 Flag Day in a flag-raising ceremony with Boy Scout Troops and Venture Crew
  • Participate in Constitution Week September 17–23 with activities, school presentations, and participation in Bells Across America
  • Place wreaths on the graves of veterans through ​​Wreaths Across America
  • ​​​​Create Quilts of Valor for veterans’ Welcome Home Boxes
  • Donate a special recognition handmade quilt created for a Gold Star Mother
  • Deliver food to veterans ​during the holidays
  • Donate much-needed items as well as thousands of books to the local Veterans Administration (VA) hospital
  • Assist with local naturalization ceremonies
  • Recognize service men and women with cards of thanks
  • Honor local law enforcement officers and departments for their efforts

EDUCATION

  • Honor outstanding history teachers in our community
  • Sponsor DAR Good Citizens Essay Contests
  • Support the Indian Youth Summer Camp Program
  • Participate in a food drive, book drive, and school supplies for Lasley Elementary School
  • Encourage literacy by reading to children at Lasley Elementary
  • Present historical programs to the community such as women’s contributions to freedom
  • Conduct genealogy workshops at local libraries
  • Introduce students to the contributions of American Patriots through in-class programs

HISTORIC PRESERVATION  

  • Recognize historic preservation efforts by citizens
  • Support Lakewood’s Heritage Center Historical Trunk Project
  • Provide funding for Lakewood’s Heritage Center Museum
  • Assemble Earth Day signs for the City of Lakewood
  • Promote women’s suffrage history through displays at the Lakewood Library
  • Celebrate Arbor Day by planting blue spruce trees
  • Volunteer to catalog items at Lakewood’s Heritage Center
  • Honor our past through genealogy-related activities