ONIT is dedicated to showcasing the Dallas small businesses in our communities. Every month, we will post about small businesses, and with each comment and share we will donate to help our community. With over 59,000 small businesses in the Dallas, Fort Worth Metro area, it’s important to highlight them, as they create the character of our neighborhoods. These businesses stretch further than just purchases, services, or meals, these businesses are an integral part of our communities and families. 

Make sure to visit our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to view our posts about local small businesses. For every comment and share, ONIT will donate to an organization that we are giving the spotlight during that month. Visit often to learn about the small business category we’re supporting and highlighting each month.

May Initiative: Supporting Our Veterans

This May we’re celebrating Memorial Day by highlighting Veteran owned Dallas small businesses, organizations and event opportunities. As a Veteran owned business, we are passionate about finding other businesses and making a difference in our community. Some of these organizations have events and volunteer opportunities, giving you a chance to see firsthand what they do and see your impact in the community. Learn more about these Dallas small businesses and organizations and make a difference today! Keep up with our social media as we post throughout May to show off these incredible companies and help us reach our donation goal. 

Veteran Owned Dallas Small Businesses

Couples Coffee Co.

Cody Nickson, a Veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the man behind Couples Coffee Co. He established Couples Coffee Co. after discovering how much he loves having coffee with his wife. This company operates out of McKinney, Texas. They offer full-bodied and highly caffeinated coffee in both ground and bean form. Their products ship anywhere across the United States. 

Couples Coffee Co. Products

Their flavorful coffee is what makes this a great find for Dallas small businesses. Here are their current products:

• Medium Roast K-Pods, 24 count: $30
• Ground Coffee Medium Roast, 12 ounces: $15
• Cold Brew Medium Roast, 2 pounds: $40
• Whole Bean Medium Roast, 5 pounds: $100

How You Can Support Couples Coffee Co.

Couples Coffee Co. is an online store only, with both one time buying options or subscribe and save. They offer 15% off with subscriptions and free shipping for orders over $20. Click here to view and buy their products. 

Freedom Iron Doors

Highlighting some of our favorite Dallas small businesses wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Freedom Iron Doors. 

For over 15 years, this veteran-owned business has been installing beautiful and stylish iron doors on residential and commercial properties throughout North Texas. Founder Mika Parker-Crenshaw and team can beautify your space in several ways. Their design projects include wine cellar doors, access gates, sliders, steel windows, and hand-forged wrought iron doors.

How You Can Support Freedom Iron Doors

You can support this business by having them beautify your very own entryway. 

• Inquire about all iron services by calling 972-445-DOOR (3667). 
• Browse their website to explore different style choices or to review past renovation projects.

Organizations Benefiting Veterans

Dallas Warriors 

Our donation campaign follows the Dallas Warriors this month. The Dallas Warriors are a nonprofit organization focused on giving back to veterans through hockey. The team environment and playing the game allows rehab through alternative outlets. Additionally, the Warriors are active throughout DFW, showing up at military events and taking part in regional and national tournaments. They work closely with the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

In order to play with the Warriors, you must be a veteran or member of the armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard), and former members must be discharged under honorable or general conditions. This team is dedicated to the injured and disabled veterans, both men and women. Additionally, any level of disability is welcomed! 

If you’ve never played hockey before, don’t worry! The Dallas Warriors are open to any level of experience and can supply you with hockey equipment. There are games, practices and ice time to make sure that you can learn the great game of hockey, and get a good workout in, too! 

How You Can Support the Dallas Warriors

This month, we are focusing our donation campaign on the Dallas Warriors. Visit our social media to comment for a $3 donation or share the post for a $5 donation. 

Additionally, you can make a donation directly to the Dallas Warriors. These donations can be monetary donations, equipment donation, or buying merchandise. These donations are used towards events, tournaments, equipment and opportunities for veterans.

22 Kill

22KILL is a non-profit focused on preventing suicide for veterans and first responders. This non-profit began as a push up challenge on social media, bringing awareness to the 22 veterans that die by suicide every day. Their belief is that suicide prevention begins with awareness. They bring awareness through education, having tough conversations, becoming comfortable with vulnerability and open communication. 22KILL also works with empowerment by helping veterans and first responders find a sense of purpose after their service. They have an extensive network of resources to help find services for mental wellness and purpose. Additionally, the 22KILL network offers the family-like camaraderie that the services provide. The 22KILL family is referred to as the Tribe, and the Tribe allows service members to easily connect with other like-minded veterans and allow an opportunity to continue the conversation and get involved with the community. 

Programs Available At 22KILL

22KILL offers three different areas for programs in the organization. They provide clinical programs, non-traditional therapies and family and community. For clinical programs, they have two different options: Stay the Course and Tribal Council. Stay the Course provides assistance with veterans, first responders and their families. They provide guidance and healing through evidence-based therapies at little to no cost. The second option is Tribal Council. Tribal Council is a monthly virtual meeting that is peer-to-peer. Each meeting is designed for a group of people to provide a safe haven and community. To see their schedule, visit their website. Non-traditional therapy programs include forge, wind therapy and workshops. The forge program focuses on the therapeutic nature of the outdoors with group retreats. The wind therapy focuses on therapeutic benefits of riding a motorcycle. Lastly, the workshops include information regarding resume building, CPR, interview training and more. 

The last program is family and community. They lead a group called We are The Children of Heroes, also called W.A.T.C.H. This group serves military and first responders that have passed away since 9/11. The second group is the White Star Families, aimed to support the families of service members who have committed suicide.They provide assessments, support, education and family counseling. 

How You Can Support 22KILL

To donate, visit their website and provide the necessary information for a monetary donation. 

DFW Canines for Veterans

The mission at DFW Canines for Veterans is to provide troops with relief and companionship through service dogs.

Once the organization accepts a veteran into their program, the search begins for finding the troop with the right dog. According to DFW Canines for Veterans website, 90% of their dogs are from local kill shelters.

After the match-up, the service dogs and veterans train together with the organization’s Director of Training and Senior Training Assistant. DFW Canines for Veterans bases these training sessions on the veteran’s needs and disabilities. When the training is over, the service dogs become a regular part of the veteran’s life and continue to provide support.

How You Can Support DFW Canines for Veterans

DFW Canines for Veterans relies 100% on public donations and corporate sponsorships. You can help connect our veterans with a canine companion by donating today. Not sure how much to give? The organization’s website stresses that no donation amount is too small. The entirety of your contribution will account for gear, training, and the veteran’s service dog.

• To make a financial donate, click here.
• To learn more about applying for a corporate or group sponsorship, click here.

Carry The Load

Carry The Load began in 2011 after Clint Bruce, a Navy SEAL veteran, went to a Memorial Day barbeque and realized no one knew the true meaning behind the holiday. This made him upset, as he was mourning the loss of several friends who had lost their life while serving.  He sought refuge at DFW’s White Rock Lake. There he ran into an older gentleman that he guessed was a fellow war veteran, maybe from WWII, who asked him, “Son, who are you carrying?” That moment was pivotal for Bruce, who suddenly realized this gentleman articulated what he was feeling.  Soon after that day, Carry The Load was born with the help of co-founder and fellow Teammate, Stephen Holley. The organization’s mission is restoring the true meaning of Memorial Day and inspiring Americans to honor our heroes throughout the year.

Programs Available at Carry The Load

Today, Carry The Load offers a range of resources to assist veterans and connect with non-veterans. They distribute these resources through three unique programs: Awareness, Continuum of Care, and Education.

The Carry The Load Awareness Program is highlighted through their Memorial May campaign. This month-long event spreads across the United States to host relays and rallies for the community to participate in and support their troops. As of 2020, the events have a physical presence in 46 states with over 70 different rallies but also offer virtual participation.

The Continuum of Care provides much needed resources to veterans, first responders and their families.  Through the Memorial May campaign each year, funds raised peer-to-peer are shared with non-profit partners who help provide direct services.  

The Education Program, known as Carry The Flag, was created to inspire and share knowledge about service, sacrifice, and patriotism with the next generation. Carry The Load invites school or youth programs to sign up and receive curriculum and learning resources they can share with their community. You can find more information here.

How You Can Support Veterans In May

With Memorial Day around the corner, Carry The Load’s Executive Director, Debbie Wright, offers a few ways the public can support our veterans on Memorial Day and throughout Memorial May. 

“We’ve asked different veterans how they feel about people saying thank you for your service. It’s humbling for them,” Wright said. “But what really makes a difference for the veterans is when people put action behind their thank you. Come out and join us in person or participate virtually” You can get more information at www.carrytheload.org/memorialmay. 

Wright also encourages parents to talk to their children about the meaning of Memorial Day. 

Wright said. “By educating the youth about the true meaning of Memorial Day, it serves as a reminder to all of us that somebody gave their life for us to have this long weekend, the least we can do is take one minute to honor that sacrifice.”

How You Can Support Carry The Load

One way you can support Carry The Load is to participate in the events they host throughout the year. 

In May, the organization connects Americans to the sacrifices of our military, veterans, first responders and their families by hosting Memorial May events.  This includes a national relay, Dallas Memorial March, and city rallies. Participants join these events in teams. Gather a group of friends and family together to build your team and participate by visiting carrytheload.org/register 

Other awareness events hosted by Carry The Load include Flag Day, Patriot Day, and Veterans Day. 

You can also make a general donation to the organization here. As stated on Carry The Load’s website, your contribution will help provide healing of the mind, body, and soul for the nation’s warriors.

April Initiative: Volunteering in DFW

In April, we are celebrating National Volunteer Month by highlighting different Dallas small businesses and organizations with volunteer opportunities. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, meet new people, and make a difference. You can volunteer, donate, or buy items of an Amazon wish list. These actions help further our community and inspire those around you. Learn more about these amazing organizations and team up with us on our volunteer efforts around DFW.

Rebuilding Together North Texas

One of Tia LaFavor’s favorite memories at Rebuilding Together North Texas paints a vivid picture of what their work does best: change people’s lives. 

“We worked with a veteran, he was a widow, and he was still having a very difficult time with losing his wife,” LaFavor, the Director of Operations at Rebuilding Together North Texas, said. “At the beginning of the day, we always ask the homeowners if they want to say some words to the volunteers and if they want to thank them. If they’re not comfortable talking in front of groups, that’s okay, but if they want to, it’s really wonderful for the volunteers to hear that. And so he wanted to.”

According to LaFavor, the veteran was overcome with gratitude from seeing the service Rebuilding Together North Texas was providing his home. 

“The veteran couldn’t speak without crying. And so finally he just stops trying to speak and he goes around and shakes everybody’s hand. He spent like several seconds with every single volunteer, saying thank you so much for being here.” LaFavor said. “He was just so touched. So that’s one of my favorite memories. I think it’s just seeing his eyes, this overwhelming gratitude.”

About Rebuilding Together North Texas

Rebuilding Together North Texas, a non-profit organization in Plano, provides low-income homeowners with free critical home repairs. The organization distributes its services into three programs: National Rebuilding Month, Safe at Home, and Rebuilding for Heroes. 

National Rebuilding Month takes place in April. Before COVID-19, the organization could expect to repair 12-14 homes in a single day. Each home would have a sponsor and hundreds of volunteers. This initiative highlights the organization’s mission: to repair homes, revitalize communities, and rebuild lives.

Safe at Home is a program geared toward senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, or households with minor-aged children while Rebuilding for Heroes aims to help veterans, first responders, veteran widows, and active-duty military.

“There’s a lot of awareness in Texas to do more for our veterans. It’s something that’s always been needed,” LaFavor said. “It’s not uncommon for us to help a Vietnam veteran who was never thanked for his service or welcomed home. One of the things we like to tell our veterans is thank you for your service and welcome home in case they haven’t heard that before.”

The work Rebuilding Together North Texas does at any given property is extensive and covers just about every repair except foundation work. To qualify for repair services, you must be low-income and you must own your home. 

“Our organization seals the envelope. We have a lot of clients with a multitude of issues.” LaFavor said. “We have a 25-point Safe and Healthy Home checklist and we base the safety and health of a home using points on that checklist.”

Some common repairs the organization will address are ADA modifications, flooring, and fixes in the kitchen. Larger projects include roofing or window replacements. No matter the scale of a repair, volunteers are always welcome. 

A Volunteer’s Role

“Historically, before COVID-19, we were a volunteer-heavy organization where we would have a sponsor come in and bring a group of volunteers for rebuild day.” Garett Jones, Executive Director at Rebuilding Together North Texas, said. “We would have a house and a list of things to accomplish that day. Then the group of volunteers would come in and work on the house.” 

All volunteers, no matter their level of craftsmanship, are welcome at Rebuilding Together. However, contractors handle more technical repairs. The contributions of sponsors make their assistance possible. 

“Some volunteers are skilled, some volunteers are unskilled, and some people only want to paint,” Jones said. “We’ll let you paint. We’ll let you run a rake.” 

Due to COVID-19, Rebuilding Together stopped all projects in March 2020 but started working with contractors again in the early summer of last year. There are also virtual opportunities for volunteers.

 “Virtual volunteer opportunities include office and administrative work,” Jones said. “We also have Virtual Build-Alongs. These are virtual events where we lead volunteers along and show them what to do. The volunteer group is building benches, birdhouses, and planter boxes. These items are determined by us asking the community what their needs are.” 

Working To Leave a Lasting Impact

A benefit to getting involved with an organization like Rebuilding Together is the lasting impact these home repair projects have on a homeowner’s life. 

“My memories of home when I was a kid, and even when I go back now, are good. Whenever a lot of our clients think of home, it’s more like ‘I don’t have hot water’ or ‘I can’t do the dishes because the kitchen sink doesn’t work.’ So they don’t have good memories of their home,” Jones said. “Whenever we go in and we can improve that and make them safer, it kind of gives them a new life in their own home.”

How To Volunteer

To start rebuilding your local community and dedicate time as a volunteer, you can apply to fulfill a role here. You can also make a financial donation here. 

North Texas Food Bank

On average, the North Texas Food Bank supplies food to nearly 1,000 feeding programs in 13 North Texas counties. During the 2020 Fiscal Year, they donated 96.9 million meals and distributed over 34 million pounds of produce to North Texas kids, seniors and families. 

To accomplish their 2021 goals, they will need volunteers to make it happen. There are different volunteer options and opportunities, all with the ultimate goal of feeding North Texas. Below, you’ll find their volunteer options. 

• Disaster relief mobile pantry
• Distribution center
• Volunteering virtually by becoming a social media ambassador
• Nutrition services
• Administrative projects
• Jan’s garden
• Cards for hope
• Special events

How To Volunteer

To volunteer, visit their website and see their mobile calendar for an online registration and sign up. If you cannot volunteer, you can always make a monetary donation instead. You can donate online, by phone (214-330-1396), or by mailing a check to: North Texas Food Bank, Gift and Development Services, 3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano, Texas 75075. 

Hugs Cafe

Another great volunteer opportunity is to visit downtown McKinney and help out at Hugs Cafe. This restaurant was founded in 2012 as a non-profit organization that provides employment and training for adults with disabilities or a brain injury. They also have a second location, Hugs Greenhouse, also located in McKinney. Their goal is to provide a safe haven and learning experience for their employees and have volunteer efforts as well. 

How To Volunteer

To volunteer with Hugs, sign up through their website. You can volunteer with the Cafe or the Greenhouse. However, please note that if you wish to volunteer with the cafe, you will need to have your food handlers license. 

Dallas Life Foundation

The Dallas Life Foundation is looking for volunteers to assist with their homeless recovery center. Established in 1954, this organization has continuously taken in the homeless population and provided them with a safe haven. They have had over 5,300 volunteers to assist them, and they’re hoping that you can be the next one to join their volunteer family. 

How To Volunteer

Their volunteer opportunities are both in person and online, depending on what you are most comfortable with. In order to take part in helping, you will need to visit them online and fill out a volunteer application followed by a background check. Once accepted, simply visit them online to see their schedule and find what works best for you. A major area of work comes with their kitchen, as they provide over 900 meals a day. They take volunteers both on the weekend and on weekdays. Find out more about this great organization and submit your application today! 

The Main Place

Founded in 2006 by Sharon Johnston, The Main Place serves as a resource homeless teens or families in need can turn to for new clothing or personal items. Johnston was inspired to start the organization after learning about the high number of homeless students within Irving ISD. The organization has since turned into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates thanks to the help of volunteers. While many Dallas small businesses have checkout lines where customers pay for their items, The Main Place is a retail store without a cash register. Clients are free to enter and get assistance with an image consultant. According to their website, clients can find high-quality, trendy, age-appropriate, and well-fitting clothing. Overall, the goal is to help raise the self-esteem of visitors and demonstrate love through acts of kindness.

How To Volunteer

To become a volunteer, you can fill out the online application. After filling out the application and passing the background check, it’s time to arrange your schedule with the organization. 

Current Volunteer Hours include:  

• 2nd Saturday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Each Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• 4th Wednesday: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• 4th Saturday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Salvation Army North Texas

The Salvation Army is a nationally recognized organization that’s been distributing aid to communities for over a hundred years. Just a few examples of the services they offer range from addressing local poverty and homelessness to emboldening the youth and offering food assistance during the pandemic. Currently, The Salvation Army North Texas facilitates Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, and Tarrant counties. It’s the biggest Salvation Army Command in size, making it more necessary for as many helping hands as possible to contribute.

How To Volunteer

You can make an impact by donating financially, giving gently-used items, or volunteering. Browse the organization’s “Ways to Give” page to learn more.

Dallas Pets Alive

Calling all pet lovers! Dallas Pets Alive might just be the perfect place for you to donate some of your time. 

Since 2012, the organization has established itself as a top animal welfare group in North Texas. The organization changes the traditional animal sheltering system by rescuing pets and housing them through the help of foster families. Since working closely with the North Texas community, Dallas Pets Alive has helped increase the number of pets leaving a city shelter alive from 42.7% in 2012 to 89% in 2019. However, their goal is to make all of North Texas a no-kill zone and the help of more volunteers will make it easier for them to get there. 

How To Volunteer

If you’re looking for ways to contribute, you’ll be happy to know the organization has a variety of volunteer opportunities. While fostering is a great way to help, there are other options for those who may not be able to invite a pet home yet. Some of these roles include fulfilling a volunteer position at fundraising events, contributing photography, serving as a volunteer coordinator, or making a tax-deductible donation.

• You can learn more about volunteering at Dallas Pets Alive here
• Apply to become a cat or dog foster parent here 

The Samaritan Inn

The Samaritan Inn is making an impact in the community by giving families and individuals a place to restore, reset, and grow. Yes, the Inn offers its clients a place to spend the night, but the organization also has other programs to help individuals become self-sufficient and capable of building a bright future. These services include case management, counseling, financial literacy, and career development. If you browse the organization’s website, you’ll likely run into some numbers that demonstrate just how impactful their role is within North Dallas. These stats state that within the last year, the Samaritan Inn has: 

• Served 146, 318 meals
• Completed 6,150 counseling/casework hours
• Completed 503 financial and career classes

How To Volunteer

According to the Samaritan Inn’s website, they need up to 44 volunteers on any given day to fulfill critical positions at the Inn. It’s the help of volunteers that make the Samaritan Inn the resource it is for North Dallas residents. You can dedicate some of your time and skills by filling out the organization’s online application. 

If you’d like to give financially, you have a number of options. These include:

•  A monetary donation to the organization’s efforts
• Donating items from the organization’s Kitchen & Food Items and Non-Food Items list 
• For easy shopping, browse their Amazon list with pre-selected items 
• Help feed families and individual residents by contributing to the Inn’s 3Squares Healthy Meals program
• Help support the children residents within the Samaritan Inn by donating to the organization’s Sponsor-A-Child program 

The Dallas Stars Foundation

While you may not be ready to hop back in the arena to cheer on the Dallas Stars, you can join the Dallas Stars Foundation and become a Difference Maker. The Dallas Stars Foundation focuses on supporting the community through different volunteer efforts and opportunities every month. Difference Makers can sign up for a monthly email with volunteer sign ups, ranging from helping out the team, working with children, stocking shelves, in-game fundraising, building outside courts, or building playgrounds. They also have a yearly casino night, raising money for the organization to continue to sponsor the community. They also do their part in highlighting other Dallas small businesses. Last year, they raised a record-breaking $400,000.

How To Volunteer

To become a Difference Maker, sign up on their website for more information and emails. 

In-Sync Exotics

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity where you can be in the presence of beautiful and exotic cats? Then In-Sync Exotics in Wylie, Texas is for you. This wildlife sanctuary was built for rescuing mistreated exotic cats and providing them with loving care to last a lifetime. These cats have been born into captivity and cannot safely live in the wild. Therefore, In-Sync Exotics houses, feeds, nurtures and loves these animals for their whole life. 

It’s important to remember that this is a sanctuary for animals, it is not a petting zoo. This is an organization that is serious about protecting their cats, providing them with respect to their right to life. If you ever take a tour with them, you’ll hear directly from the guide just how loved these animals are, even after they’ve passed on. They also provide education about what it means to care and protect exotic cats and support legislation to outlaw poaching, abuse, and uncontrolled breeding. 

Their volunteer opportunities include day-to-day maintenance such as feeding, washing bowls and buckets and cleaning enclosures. Or, they also have landscaping projects, fundraising, and building new enclosures. In-Sync Exotics also has marketing volunteer options, such as press contacts, setting up sponsors, designing fundraising materials, and obtaining donations. For skilled workers, they need welders, plumbers, electricians, landscapers and carpenters. Some of these volunteer opportunities do require additional requirements after the initial volunteer approval. To sign up, visit their website for more information. 

How to Volunteer

If you would like to assist In-Sync Exotics, but you’re not comfortable with visiting in person, you can always donate to them through their website. 

March: Women’s History Month

This March we are focusing on supporting Women-owned businesses and organizations as we celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8th. Therefore, we have listed out women-owned Dallas small businesses. You can make a difference by donating to organizations, having an Australian inspired meal, buying a new record, or visiting a small boutique. Learn more about these great organizations, businesses and restaurants and join us on our social media to make our donation goal.

Organizations That Support Women

Attitudes and Attire

With this organization, the name says it all. Since 1996, Attitudes and Attire have been building a healing and developmental space for women looking to transform their lives through a change in attitudes and attire. The organization, started by Lyn Berman, strives to help women grow their self-confidence and project a better outer appearance to prepare for the workforce. These skills are taught in different workshops offered in Attitudes and Attire’s three programs: Core Program, Hopeful Smiles, and Boots to Heels. 

“In a non-COVID world, we offer three workshops for our Core Program. The workshop focuses on self-esteem and self-worth, boundaries, confidence building, and positive self-talk,” Attitudes and Attire’s Development Director, Annabelle Baxter, said. “The second workshop is twice a week. We invite community professionals to come in and give presentations on topics of interest to our clients. A lot of it is resume building, financial fitness, and developing interview skills.” 

Hopeful Smiles, the organization’s second program, began in 2006. This initiative partners with local dentists to renew the appearance of clients whose teeth and gums have been impacted by poverty, substance abuse, and other conditions. Programs like these aren’t always available in organizations supporting women. Hopeful Smiles serves as just one example of how Attitudes and Attire differ in their approach toward changing the lives of women who step inside their building. This is further proven with the adoption of a Spanish-speaking Core Program taught by bilingual staff members twice a month. 

Boots to Heels Program: A Community for Veterans

And then there’s Attitudes and Attire’s most recent program, Boots to Heels. This program is catered to women in the military community and works to provide helpful resources to ease the transition into civilian life. 

“Boots to Heels began in 2012 when Attitudes and Attire started noticing we were getting quite a few female veterans,” Attitudes and Attire’s Boots to Heels Program Director, Corena Mitchell, said. Mitchell is also a 16-year United States veteran. “They had different experiences than the core women who came to the programs.”

Boots to Heels workshops are dedicated to building focus and boundaries, setting goals, and establishing self-care practices. This program also gives participants the chance to release their past. 

“When the female veterans get together, we get to talk about what we’ve been through. We realize we’re not alone and we get to release that. It’s one of the most amazing, beautiful things that you’ll see.” Mitchell said. “When a workshop first starts and you walk in there, the women’s heads are down. By the end of the class, everyone has exchanged numbers, we’re best friends, and it just builds this amazing thing. After that, they get to come into our boutique and get professional clothing.” 

The Boutique’s Role at Attitudes and Attire

The items inside the boutique will play one of the final roles in transforming the lives of women taking part in Attitudes and Attire. 

“At the end of the first workshop, the clients are invited to the boutique where they select an interview outfit,” Baxter said. “This is a pantsuit or a dress and a jacket, underpinnings, one piece of jewelry, a scarf, and pantyhose. Our boutique is stocked with clothing from size 0 to 8X plus. We have something for everyone.” 

According to Mitchell, the boutique is especially impactful for female veterans.

“Because we’re in uniform for so many years, the transition from uniform to professional clothing can be difficult,” Mitchell said. “To see the women get these professional clothing and the transformation they do is beautiful. A lot of women will be like ‘I’ve never had a real business suit before.’”

Other surprises within Boots to Heels include interviews with potential employers during the resource-centered day of the workshop. 

“We have mentors come in and sit down with the women one on one to talk about what they want to do,” Mitchell said. “A lot of the time, the mentors that come in are looking for people to hire. Women have gotten jobs, not even knowing they were being interviewed in the process.” 

If you scroll through Attitudes and Attire’s website, the homepage shares how the organization has already assisted over 25,000 women. As time passes, they will continue to adopt more ways to reach women looking to grow and enhance their skills.

“Throughout the years, we have never strayed from our missions,” Baxter said. “We have only created new programs that will enhance our mission.” 

Women’s History Month at Attitudes and Attire

As we settle into Women’s History Month, many will use this time to reflect on the achievements of women and the roles they have played in pushing society forward. Across all industries, women are an integral thread in doing great work. This is something Attitudes and Attire believes in.

“I’m so proud of how far women have come,” Mitchell said. “Knowing that three years ago we had the highest-ranking woman, Lori Robinson, retire as a four-star general is amazing. It’s amazing how far we’ve come and that we keep pushing. It’s near and dear to my heart what we as women are doing and continue to overcome.” 

Similarly, Annabelle Baxter believes Women’s History Month and celebrating the achievements of women holds significant value to the organization. 

“Women’s History Month means so much to Attitudes & Attire as we focus on and celebrate women all year long,” Baxter said.  “We believe that when you invest in a woman, you build a stronger community.”

How To Support Attitudes and Attire

If you would like to play an important role in shaping the lives of women, Attitudes and Attire has opportunities available. The organization currently accepts financial and clothing donations, specifically plus-size clothing, jewelry, and handbags. Click here to learn more about how you can get involved.

Texas Women’s Foundation

The Texas Women’s Foundation is a leader in cultivating social and economic change for the women, girls and families in Texas. This foundation, called the Dallas Women’s Foundation until 2018, was founded by 19 women. These women represented community diversity through race, culture, politics and finances. The Texas Women’s Foundation achieves their vision of women helping women through research, advocacy, programs and grantmaking. According to their website, they have awarded 46.6 million dollars in grants over 34 years. Since 2013, they have awarded over 27.6 million dollars in grants, and impacted over 90,000 women and families. The community supports this foundation to represent diverse communities in Texas.

Boss Women Media

It’s hard not to feel inspired when you scroll through Boss Women Media’s website or social media pages. Marty McDonald started this powerhouse of an organization after she pivoted away from her 11-year corporate career. Now, the organization aims to help women build important connections while gaining tools and developing a roadmap for accomplishing their dreams. Such is the case with Boss Connectors. Boss Women Media hosts these events to bring driven, creative, and talented women together to network and grow. Additional resources are available on the organization’s online blog where they consistently share tips and resources regarding professional development and career growth.

Women-Owned Dallas Small Businesses

Favor The Kind

One of our favorite Dallas small businesses, Favor the Kind, brings a hint of bohemian cool to the DFW area. This home, gift, and apparel boutique rooted in Dallas, Texas has a knack for showcasing unique jewelry and vintage clothing items you can’t find anywhere else. From puzzles and flow-y dresses to face masks and Dolly Parton keychains, Favor the Kind has it all. Recently, the eclectic shop has opened up additional locations in Houston and Crested Butte. The shop is open each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stop by for a day to take in all of the pretty pieces owner Carly Seale and her team have on display. Or shop online, if that’s more your thing. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

Red Zeppelin Records

Located on the Downtown McKinney Square, Red Zeppelin Records provides vinyl records for every genre. Whether you’re looking for old or new records, Red Zeppelin is the go-to spot to find them. Other than carrying vinyls, they also supply music gift items. Red Zeppelin is one of five female owned vinyl record shops in the state of Texas. Owner Katie Scott also runs The Groovy Coop, a retro inspired shop, also located on the Downtown McKinney Square. Check out this Dallas small business during their hours. They are currently open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Friday and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. When it comes to fun and quirky Dallas small businesses, Red Zeppelin and The Groovy Coop are great go-to’s. 

Junk Genius

Have unwanted furniture that you’re looking to get rid of? That’s where Junk Genius comes in to help. Junk Genius takes just about everything! They take an environmentally friendly, responsible and affordable approach to junk and trash removal. Junk Genius removes household junk, furniture, hot tubs, clean out offices and businesses, and storage unit junk. This business also remove and recycle appliances, electronics, mattresses, rubbish, television, and cardboard. Junk Genius partners with local and national donation spots, such as The Salvation Army, Frisco Resale, Goodwill Industries of Dallas, Inc. and Grace Bridge Resale. They are certified through JunkRemoval.com and have 5 stars out of 124 Google reviews. This Dallas small business is here to make sure the community can remove and dispose of their junk in safe and environmentally friendly ways.

Women-Owned Restaurants

Nerdvana

It’s all fun and games at Nerdvana, located in the Downtown Frisco Square. This restaurant is gaming themed, featuring a custom cocktails, scratch kitchen, and a coffee bar. This unique concept plays around the idea of playing games while eating a contemporary take on American cuisine. The fun doesn’t stop at the food, as the coffee bar and spirits offer another way to showcase their fun and inventive nerd passion. Whether you’re wanting to game in one of their 2 player co-op cockpit booths, enjoy one of their 50 board games, or watch an esports tournament, Nerdvana has something to offer for everyone. 

Check out this Dallas small business for bytes, brews and games.

The Aussie Grind

While traveling to Australia isn’t possible right now, diving into Australian cuisine is possible in Frisco at The Aussie Grind. Husband and wife duo Lui and Angie Monforte have brought their slice of Australia to the Dallas suburbs. This Aussie style cafe  offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, smoothies, fresh pressed juice and a fun assortment of coffee drinks. Australian cuisine is diverse, taking many different cultures and integrating the flavors into a fun, flavor-filled fusion. 

For “breaky” enjoy traditional omelettes or eggs benedict, or gnocchi with bacon and eggs. They offer hotcakes with vanilla ice cream, or kids meals fairy bread, or hotcakes with fairy floss (cotton candy). The lunch menu is available all day and includes items like a chicken and brie sandwich and fish and chips. Dinner starts at 4:00, offering an Australian take on chicken parmesan. Their iced coffees come with a scoop of ice cream, or you can opt for a fresh pressed juice.

February: Black History Month

This February we are focusing on supporting Black-owned organizations and businesses as we celebrate Black History Month. Therefore, we have created a list of small, Black-owned businesses around Dallas.  There are so many ways to safely make a difference, whether it’s going to a local restaurant, shopping at a small boutique, taking a fitness class through a locally owned gym or donating to an organization. Learn more about these businesses and join with us on social media to donate. 

Organizations That Support the Black Community

This February, we are donating to the  Dallas Truth Racial Healing and Transformation (Dallas TRHT), up to $1,000. Dallas TRHT is a community driven organization with a primary mission of addressing race and racism through narrative change, relationship building, and equitable policies and practices.  Each comment on our social media post is a $3 donation, and every share is a $5 donation. 

Be sure to share this post with your friends and family to raise awareness, support Dallas small businesses and spread awareness. 

For further support, please consider donating to these organizations in our community. 

• Chris Howell Foundation, an organization that handed out over 28,000 PPE care packages, donated 910,000,000 pounds of food to 28,000 DFW families between June and December of 2020. The Chris Howell Foundation provides HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs. Additionally, they provide programs and resources on skill development, wellness, health and financial education.
• Bey Good x NAACP is Beyonce’s charity program on a mission to spread hope and provide a lifeline for small businesses during the pandemic. 
• Texas Black Expo is a nonprofit organization that works with small businesses that are affected in regions with storm-related losses.

Black Owned Dallas Small Businesses

Pressed Roots

This salon was developed with the ideology that everyone deserves easy and quality hair care. Pressed Roots is located in Dallas, and gives customers three promises. Their promises include: hair health with great products, respecting your time, and indulging you with complimentary bubbly, green juice and wifi while getting pampered. 

Owner Pierston Gaines wanted to create an atmosphere to allow Black women to come to a hair salon with highly trained employees that can handle textured hair without harming, traumatizing, or damaging customers. While this first started as a pop-up in different cities, Gaines has since put roots down in Dallas and has visions for expansion in other Texan cities.

The products used are by Morrocan Oil, Briogeo, Design Essential and other high end lines. Visits begin with an online hair quiz to determine the products, amount of heat, treatment options, and if a trim is necessary. Some customers might experience treatments like steam or deep conditioning. Most customers will have their hair washed twice, conditioned, blow dried with a round brush, and flat-ironed. This takes 90 minutes on average and costs $65. You can book your appointment through their website. 

The Dock Bookshop

The Dock Bookshop is the largest African American owned full-service bookstore in both Texas and the Southwest. They opened in 2008, with the mission to inspire, inform and entertain through literature and events. The Dock Bookshop also hosts book signings. They also have greeting cards, music, beverages, candles, gifts and personal care items. This shop is located in Fort Worth, and is currently hosting online events. 

Glamore

Yemi Solomon, the CEO and Fashion Stylist of Glamore, began this boutique in Virginia before relocating to Dallas. Yemi does more than running her online boutique. This one-woman show offers photoshoot styling, closet rejuvenation, personal styling and shopping, makeovers, resume writing,  interview training, image consultation, and more. Her unique and exceptional looks have propelled her forward in her career. To learn more about Glamore, Yemi, or do some shopping, visit Glamore’s website. 

GRIT Fitness

This full-body fitness concept was founded by Brittani (Brit) Rettig in January 2015. GRIT Fitness is based on Brit’s belief that mental grit is important for both fitness success and personal success. The workouts provide both a fun experience while getting an intense workout. Brit hand selected her all-female team to create an environment filled with passion, fun, positive energy and perseverance. If you’re ready to get your sweat on, you can experience one of these fun-filled workouts online or in person. Grab a bottle of water, towel, and get ready to enjoy a total body wellness experience. 

Black Owned Restaurants in the Dallas, Fort Worth Metroplex

Da Munchies 

This is a 100% vegan and organic restaurant located in West Dallas. Da Munchies DFW is run by Chef Angela. She believes in serving healthy, vegan food as a form of art. They serve meatless versions of comfort food, including mac & cheese, a vegan Popeyes Chicken Sandwich, lasagna rolls, or chicken and waffles. At Da Munchies, they believe that eating isn’t just about feeding your body, but nourishing your soul. No matter your diet preference, Chef Angela is sure to give everyone a meal that they’ll remember.

Their hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 6:00. 

Pangea

For a nice night out, visit Pangea in Garland, Texas. Pangea is led by Kevin Ashade, aka “Chef Kev.” Chef Kev is a French-trained culinary professional. While born in Texas, he spent his childhood in the U.K. and Nigeria before returning to America.  Chef Kev once competed on Food Network’s hit show “Beat Bobby Flay” where he dominated and created a tastier dish than American chef, Bobby Flay. His website offers online recipes and chef services. 

Pangea’s menu includes stuffed salmon, jerk-roasted lamb shank, and a five cheese lobster mac & cheese. They are currently offering dine-in or takeout services. 

The Cookie Society

Husband and wife duo Marissa and Jeff Allen founded The Cookie Society in 2018 in Frisco, Texas. During Jeff’s eight year NFL career, he often brought his wife’s baked goods into the locker room.  The end of one career led to the blossoming of the next, leading to one of the top Dallas small businesses. From the field to the kitchen, this power couple dominates, landing on Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2020. Their rich, crispy, yet chewy cookies range in flavors from traditional sugar, to banana pudding. These Texas-sized cookies are created with high quality ingredients, mixing in fun and unique flavor ideas. The Cookie Society gourmet cookies are available nationwide for shipping.  

Off the Bone Barbeque

It’s all in a name when it comes to Off the Bone Barbeque. Located in The Cedars neighborhood in Dallas, you’ll find family-feeling, comfort food run by Dwight and Rose Harvey. Pitmaster Dwight offers “Off the Bone” pork ribs, beef brisket, beef sausage and smoked chicken. Their delicious food is from family recipes, giving you the feeling of a family supper Mondays through Saturdays. With over 1,500 positive reviews, visit this local barbeque stop for mouth watering, tender, fall off the bone meats. 

Off the Bone Barbeque is available for in person dining, delivery, takeout, and catering. 

Brunchaholics

This delicious, Instagram-worthy brunch choice is available on Wednesday pop-ups and weekend brunch at Soiree Cafe. Brunchaholics has an ever-changing menu, so be sure to follow the Brunchaholics Instagram to learn where they’ll be and what they’re serving. Find out why Jessie Washington’s creation, the Soul Food Burrito, landed him on Food Networks list of The Most Over-the-Top Burritos in the Country. This burrito comes loaded with Southern favorites: fried or blackened catfish, mac & cheese, and smoked turkey collard greens. Bring your napkins, empty belly, and enjoy this local must-have.

If you can’t wait until the weekend to try their food, they offer a cookbook both in physical and E-book format.  

How to Be ONIT in the Community

As a small, Veteran-owned business, ONIT is dedicated to highlighting others in our community. Our Dallas small businesses are the backbone of our city. The dedicated owners are what keeps our city going and offers employment to so many. We hope highlighting these different businesses will encourage you to stop by and see for yourself why they’re so great. And be sure to stay tuned on our journey through social media. Each like and share will lead to a donation for a different organization every month. Follow us on social media to see what community and which Dallas small businesses we’ll focus on next. 

If you are a small business owner and would like to be featured in one of our upcoming blogs about Dallas small businesses, reach out to us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn), or through email at: marketing@onithomeservice.com