Supporting military families one strand at a time

When husband and wife Rich and Michelle Drake decided to put their woodworking and artistic talents together to create sustainable wood jewelry, they didn’t realize that their unique approach would be a skill that could also benefit military families.

Stonington Designs founders Michelle and Rich Drake started the Military Spouse Weaving Program to provide opportunities for military spouses.

Her son Michael is a U.S. Air Force pilot based in Massachusetts. His wife Donna mentioned that many young families on the base are struggling financially.

Opportunity knocks

“The fact that these families are sacrificing so much and giving so much, it just seemed like a logical place for me to figure out how this might look — to create a program that would train these spouses in something new and would give them an opportunity to earn some money,” she says.

Michelle lives near the Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut, so she decided that would be a good place to start. Military Spouse Weaving Program participants are taught how to weave the different designs, then they are ready to get started.

"I think a lot of people that aren't in the service don't know that these families are struggling, so this was a way I knew that I could give back." — Michelle Drake

They pick up their weekly kits at the shop, which include the brass core and bent wood crafted in the shop, along with the bamboo strips, which they weave around it creating the design. The weavers decide how many pieces they can make in a week and appreciate the flexibility.

Military spouses are taught how to weave gorgeous designs.

A win-win

“It’s been nice to create a flexible environment for them. They don’t have to be apologetic about the unique flow of military life and being the spouse of someone serving, because really the whole family serves. They handle everything back at home,” explains Michelle.

Before her son joined the military, Michelle didn’t have much experience with military family life and the challenges that come along with it. “I think a lot of people that aren’t in the service don’t know that these families are struggling, so this was a way I knew that I could give back. I knew that as we grew as a company, we would help them also. It was a win-win.”

Contact us to learn more! Visit www.stoningtondesigns.com, email sales@stoningtondesigns.com or call 860-460-1689.