Fort Polk-Operation Deploy Your Dress

09/07/2026

🎉✨ WE’RE BACK — AND WE HAVE A NEW HOME! ✨🎉

After a season of change, hard work, and a whole lot of love from our amazing community, Operation Deploy Your Dress – Ft. Polk is ready to celebrate our GRAND REOPENING at our NEW LOCATION! 👗💖

📅 Saturday, September 26, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 1820 Corps Road, South Fort Polk — Building #330

Come see our new space, browse our beautiful collection, and help us kick off an exciting new season for ODYD Ft. Polk! Whether you’re looking for the perfect gown for a military ball, formal event, dining-out, or another special occasion, we can’t wait to welcome you!

A reminder about our mission: Military and DoD ID card holders are eligible to receive TWO dresses per year through Operation Deploy Your Dress. Our goal is to make formal wear accessible while helping military families offset the cost of special occasions.

WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to the incredible people and organizations who have supported us throughout this transition and helped prepare ODYD Ft. Polk for a new space. We are incredibly grateful to our ODYD Ft. Polk Board of Directors, Operation Deploy Your Dress National, our sponsor Home of Heroes Thrift Shop, the Esprit De Corps Spouse Club, Ft. Polk MWR, Ft. Polk DPW, Ft. Polk Garrison Commander Col. Barlow and his XO Earl East, and everyone else who has donated their time, talents, resources, encouragement, and support. There are far too many helping hands to name, but please know that every phone call, every donation, every hour of volunteer work, every box moved, every room prepared, and every word of encouragement has made a difference. We are so thankful for the community that continues to believe in what ODYD does for our military families.

👗👠💎 AND NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP! 💎👠👗

As we begin this new Board year, our racks need to be replenished! We are asking our community to consider donating gently used or new formal dresses, shoes, clutches, and jewelry. If you have beautiful pieces sitting in your closet that are no longer being worn, please consider giving them a second life by donating them to ODYD Ft. Polk. Your donation could be the piece that helps another military spouse, Soldier, or DoD family member feel absolutely beautiful at their next special event.

Mark your calendars, bring your friends, and come celebrate with us! We can’t wait to see you! 🇺🇸✨

08/25/2026

Thank you for the rhinestones ✨🤍 Dolly Parton

08/19/2026

✨ A Little Update from Operation Deploy Your Dress ✨

We have a few exciting things happening behind the scenes, and we wanted to share a quick update with our military community! 🇺🇸💗

At this time, we will not be accepting any new shopping appointments until September as we work on some exciting changes, including our new space! 👗✨ We can’t wait to share more details with you soon.

💗 Donations are still ALWAYS welcome! If you have gently loved formal dresses, accessories, shoes, or other items you’d like to donate, please reach out to us. Your donations help us continue serving our military community!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to send us a message. Thank you so much for your continued support, patience, and generosity! We truly appreciate you. 🇺🇸

More information coming soon! ✨👗

08/15/2026

✨ Operation Deploy Your Dress is OPEN tomorrow! ✨

Join us Saturday, August 15th from 9–11 AM at 7318B G Avenue, North Fort Polk to shop for the dress that makes you feel beautiful! 👗💗

🎉 AND our AC is officially working again! 🎉 So come cool off while you shop! ❄️

Have dresses, accessories, or heels you’d like to donate? We’d love to have them! Every donation helps support our military community. 🩷

Come shop, donate, and deploy confidence one dress at a time! 🎀

08/03/2026

Do you know of any Junior or Senior high school students that are interested in a new volunteer opportunity? If so, please apply here: https://forms.gle/FQeUwVQs348yYnWK8

Details are in the post as well as the application. The deadline is Sunday, August 16th to apply!

07/27/2026

📢 Important Update from Operation Deploy Your Dress – Ft. Polk

To our amazing military community,

Due to circumstances beyond our control, beginning in August and until further notice, Operation Deploy Your Dress – Ft. Polk will be open by appointment only.

Unfortunately, two of the three air conditioning units in our building are currently not working. As much as we wish we could remain open for regular shopping hours, we simply cannot ask our volunteers or our military families to spend time trying on formal gowns inside a metal building in the Louisiana summer heat. No one wants to try on ball gowns in 90°+ temperatures, and more importantly, we cannot risk heat-related illnesses or injuries while operating under these conditions.

We sincerely apologize for this temporary inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding. Our hope is to reopen to the public as soon as possible. When that day comes, we're looking forward to celebrating with a Grand Reopening, and we can't wait to welcome everyone back!

We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Fort Polk MWR for everything they have done to help make our current building a wonderful home for Operation Deploy Your Dress. Their continued support has meant so much to us, and we are incredibly grateful.

💙 We are STILL accepting formal attire donations!

In fact, we are in great need of new inventory to continue serving our military community. If you have gently used or new:
👗 Formal gowns
👠 Dress shoes
💍 Jewelry
👜 Evening bags or clutches

We would love to give them a new life with a military service member or spouse!

Because we are operating by appointment only, please send us a message through our page to arrange a donation pickup. Our volunteers will gladly coordinate a convenient time to come pick up your formal attire. We are excited to make donating as easy as possible, and every donation helps us continue our mission of serving those who serve our nation.

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and understanding during this temporary transition. We look forward to seeing you again very soon—and hopefully celebrating together at our Grand Reopening!

❤️ The Operation Deploy Your Dress – Ft. Polk Team

07/14/2026

Our dear friends have worked very hard to reopen freshened up, restocked, and organized! Go see them and help contribute to the good they do for our collective Ft. Polk community!

You rock HoH! So glad to be involved! 🥰🥰🥰

🎉 WE’RE BACK! 🎉

After two weeks of cleaning & restocking, our doors are officially open again tomorrow, Tuesday 7/14 from 9:30-4:30!

🛍️ Come find your next thrifted treasure!

07/08/2026

As we reflect on another incredible season, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the unwavering support from our Fort Polk and surrounding communities. Your kindness, generosity, and belief in our mission allow us to continue helping military families look and feel their best for life’s special moments. ✨

We are especially honored to recognize Toni Singletary Lavergne for her incredibly generous dress donation. Your thoughtfulness made a meaningful difference for so many service members and military spouses, and we are truly grateful for your support.

A special thank you also goes to our amazing advisors, Becky Curl and Elizabeth Elms, whose guidance, encouragement, and dedication have helped Operation Deploy Your Dress continue to grow and serve our community. We couldn’t do this without you!

Every dress donated is more than just a beautiful outfit—it is an opportunity to help a service member or military spouse feel confident, celebrated, and supported during life’s special moments. Your generosity represents the strength of our community and the incredible way we come together to care for one another.

✨ As everyone returns from Block Leave, we’d love your help! If you have gently used formal gowns, cocktail dresses, military ball attire, shoes, jewelry, or accessories that are ready for a new home, please consider donating them to Operation Deploy Your Dress. Your donation could help make someone else’s special occasion even more memorable.

Together, we are building a community that lifts one another up—one dress at a time. Thank you for helping us make a difference. 🤍

05/18/2026

ODYDers - 85+ degrees is miserable! We’re going to go ahead and close for the day and hope for cooler temperatures Thursday. We’ll keep you posted!!!

05/18/2026

Good afternoon shoppers! It will be a hot one at ODYD today. None of our three air conditioner units are working. 🫠 Be sure to dress accordingly so you do not melt!