Operation Deploy Your Dress

Tamzen’s Bridal is honored to be an “Operation Deploy Your Dress” collection center. 

Do you need a little more room in your closet? Wondering what to do with those prom gowns and formal dresses that have been in the back of your closet? We have the perfect solution!! Tamzen’s Bridal will be accepting used and/or new gowns for Operation Deploy Your Dress. Tamzen’s Bridal will be making their own donation for each gown that is collected during the drive.  Please consider donating to such a worthwhile cause! Feel free to call the store for hours! Let’s all do our part to support those who keep us safe!

Operation Deploy Your Dress is a 100% donation-based, volunteer-run, Military Spouse-funded nonprofit. In an effort to offset the cost of attending military balls, this organization collect gently used and new formal attire to distribute FREE to military and dependent ID cardholders.

“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 dozens of 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 is now a well-organized store, albeit one that “sells” its goods for free. Military servicewomen and military spouses can come to ODYD and select one dress and one accessory per year. They simply need to present their military ID card and sign the record book, and they can walk away without spending a dime.”             MilitarySpouse.com