CO-OP Survival

06/13/2026

We'll be making leashes (and giving away leashes to vets) at the Heritage District Farmers Market tomorrow.
Saturday, June 13th, from 7 - 11 AM.
Stop by, grab some coffee from Bergies (a personal fav), something to munch (the baked goods are AMAZING), and tie a few knots with us.
See you there!

05/12/2026

https://co-opsurvival.com/unconventional-family-3/
Over the past three months I've had the honor of working with Mary, a beautiful veteran caregiver, who shared a small bit of her story with me.
Her story is a tale of resilience and a lifetime of love, and it is the third story in our series of Unconventional Families.

05/07/2026

We are so excited to join the Heritage Market vendors this Saturday, May 9th, from 7 - 11 am.

05/01/2026

It’s a beautiful spring in Arizona 🌻 Come make leashes with us!

And here is a bit of veteran-caregiver history: In 2010, Senator Elizabeth Dole spent 11 months at Walter Reed while her husband, Senator Bob Dole, received treatment. During her time at Walter Reed, Elizabeth met with and learned about countless family members who were caring for wounded, ill, or injured service members. Rather than tuck that information away, she forged a movement that shed light on millions of family members and friends who have dedicated their lives to caring for a disabled veteran. And she never stops. In 2025, The Elizabeth Dole Act was signed into law, giving veterans and their caregivers better access to the services they need to live their best life.
At last count, there are 14.3 million veteran-family caregivers, across all eras of conflict, in this country.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/09/04/sen-elizabeth-doles-life-changing-legacy-for-caregivers/

https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3212-1.html

04/24/2026

Leash up and join us!!

We've been invited to participate as a non-profit vendor (we still don't sell leashes) in the Heritage District Farmers' Market – downtown Gilbert (92 W Vaughn Ave).

We'll be at the market on the 2nd Saturday of every month, starting in May.

Stop by, relax, tie a few knots, learn why we make leashes, and enjoy a great selection of local produce, coffee, bread, and much more.

If you are a veteran, ask us for a leash.

Heritage District Farmers Market-Gilbert, AZ

04/08/2026

Norma and I will be at the Pyle center on Friday.
Come see what the center is all about, and stop by to say hi and tie a few knots.

04/08/2026

April 2026 Co-Op Survival Events, and some caregiver history.

Veteran-caregiver history: Progress in protective equipment preserved the lives of many post-911 service-members, but many returned with wounds of war. These wounds were the catalyst for the VA’s veteran-caregiver program. In 2007, executive order 13426 established the Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, with former Senator Bob Dole and former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala heading the commission.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/03/08/07-1137/establishing-a-commission-on-care-for-americas-returning-wounded-warriors-and-a-task-force-on

04/03/2026

Leashmaking is an opportunity for employers, organizations, and students to learn about disabled veterans and the families who care for them; normalizing and creating common ground for all. And, if invited we come to you!,

Recently, we spent some time with a group of students at Pinnacle Peak High School in Phoenix. We talked about why we make leashes, what a veteran-caregiving family is, and the impact of student participation.

Leashes made by these students were then donated to, Michael’s Foundation, a non-profit that supports veterans and veteran families. https://www.michaels-foundation.org

Well done Pinnacle High!

Thanks to Danelle Kelling and Matt Morrison for inviting us!

03/18/2026

Co-Op Caregiver Coffee Chat at The Daily Drip
If you are a family member or friend who cares for a disabled vet (or a survivor who cared for a vet) join us for coffee.

Today, 9 - 11 am
6430 E McDowell Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257

02/27/2026

From Sharon
I run Co-Op Survival, but I am also the parent/caregiver of a disabled veteran, an Elizabeth Dole Foundation Fellow, and an advocate for veteran caregivers across the country. I was honored to participate in the EDF/SHRM summit and share my insights on the issue.

Caring for a disabled individual should not ruin your career, but it does for far to many veteran caregivers. The lack of policy or even open discussion on this issue puts managers and supervisors in a position to make decisions that would appall a CEO or communications manager - what company wants to be seen as lacking support, empathy, or understanding for disabled veterans? A manager actually told me that I needed to rethink my priorities, after the same manager told me they would allow flexibility for the care of my son, "He's your adult son." While the same manager allowed parents of young children flexibility for doctor appointments, school schedules...
Hiring caregivers does not mean you have one less-productive employee, it just means that, when a position allows flexibility, the employer agrees to flexibility. We did it for caregivers during covid, and I'm pretty sure we can do it for the disabled veteran population.
If you are an employer, talk about this issue with your HR department, and if you want more information, reach out. I'm happy to share insights & initiatives that will make your organization veteran friendly (for all vets).

Millions of Americans balance careers while caring for loved ones, and research shows caregiving responsibilities are already shaping career advancement, retention, and workforce participation nationwide. This piece from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and SHRM Foundation for Stars and Stripes highlights the need for improved support for caregivers in the workforce.