Soldiers' Angels

Heroes Waiting

for Adoption

Operation Top Knot

Thank you so much for your kindness and thoughtfulness. Receiving your baby care package in the mail was such a surprise. It brought a tear to my eye, and a smile to my face to know that such an extraordinary group of crafters is thinking of our troops and their families. Thanks for your continued support. -Amy and Baby Cort

Who We Are and What We Do

Founded by college student Audri Cid in November 2003, Top Knot is a nationwide network of service clubs and individuals who sew, knit and shop to create gift baskets for infants and expectant mothers in military families. Deployments are difficult on the entire family unit, but even moreso when that family is expecting or has an infant child. Our mission is to commend the women and children at home for their strength, to let them know we are proud of their sacrifices as well as their husbands' and fathers', and most importantly, to do what we can to support them during the emotionally challenging times of deployment.

Our dedicated volunteers knit, crochet, sew, quilt, and design blankets, booties, hats, onesies, bibs, and many more homemade gifts. We also assemble and deliver gift baskets full of goodies such as bottles, diapers, onesies, pacifiers, washcloths, grooming kits, and more. Additionally, we make sure to remember Dad by sending "It's a Boy!" or "It's a Girl!" bubblegum cigars to wherever he is stationed.

How to Submit a Family for Support

Do you know a military family Operation Top Knot should be helping? To receive Top Knot support, a military family must meet the following criteria: 1) Have a deployed parent or be an active duty military service woman AND 2) be expecting a child OR have a child under the age of two.

If you know of a family that meets the above criteria, please email Jody at optopknot@soldiersangels.org with the following pieces of information: name of expecting mom, email address of expecting mom, mailing address for mom, deployed father's name, deployed father's mailing address so we can send cigars, baby's due date, baby's gender, registry information and any information regarding siblings so members of the team can send big sister and or big brother gifts.

Each new expecting mother will receive gifts in the mail during her due date month. A virtual baby shower of support will be coming from Angel volunteers across the country. Additionally, we make sure to remember Dad by sending "It's a Boy!" or "It's a Girl!" bubblegum cigars to wherever he is stationed.

How You Can Help

Donate Gifts:

Store-bought: diapers, baby shampoo/wash, teddy bears, photo albums, rattles, teethers, bottles, pacifiers, wash cloths, clothing, shoes, toy
Handmade: blankets, bibs, diaper bags, onesies, hats, booties, clothing, quilts

Donate Materials for Quilting and Knitting:

Fabric: fleece, cotton or flannel, with batting and matching thread

Yarn: baby sport weight, worsted weight, or anything very soft

All materials in pastels and primary colors, both prints and solids

Clip coupons for diapers, formula, juice, and any other baby products, then contact us for a mailing address.

To join Soldiers' Angels and participate in the Operation Top Knot team click here to get started! After you become a Verified Angel, you can sign up for the team through ApprovedAngels.com.

I just wanted to take a moment and thank every Soldiers' Angel who took part in the Las Vegas Top Knot Baby Shower...I have never had someone or a group of people that I didn't know be so selfless and thoughtful. It's really nice to see and experience. The note that I got on the flowers from my fiance Kody who is currently deployed in Afghanistan with the 221CAV brought tears to my eyes, the games brought loads-of-laughs, and all the gifts were amazing...I just wanted to say thank you to everyone involved for helping me out, it is very very appreciated and i am sure calming to my fiance knowing that you all are here to help out when he is unable to. - Donna

I...just returned from visiting our triplet mom Erin Couts at Summerlin Hospital! Both Erin and Jeremiah wanted me to thank you both for the stroller and all of the wonderful gifts they have been receiving via the Top Knot list. Erin's mom mentioned to me specifically that they received three matching patriotic handmade hats from OTK. - Report from Soldiers' Angel Jody, December 2009

I just went to the office for the first time yesterday to show off the baby and found the MANY gifts you gave me. All the cards, the gift package and brownies...WOW! Thank you so much for all of that…My hubby was so shocked and honored by all the cards Jordyn received from everyone around the US. He is already making plans to put all the cards in a separate scrapbook so someday Jordyn can see how wonderful and generous people can be. – Captain P.R., New Mom, September 2009

We had just moved here, and didn’t really know anyone around here or have family close by, before my husband left for Iraq. Opening the mailbox and finding a package from someone you don’t know, but cares enough to think about you, is one of the best feelings. We had a beautiful baby girl, that can’t wait till she gets the chance to meet her daddy, hopefully soon. I'm a proud army wife, and very thankful that there are people who can take a stranger and fill their heart with such warmth. - Nikki

I just want to thank you so much for all you did while I was pregnant with our little bear and after he was born. The delivering Doctor dropped my son right when he was born so he had & has some issues. My husband was in combat and it was a horrible time for our family. But low and behold God's sparkling twilight shone upon our family with cigars sent to my husband in Afghanistan and gifts showing up at our door step for our new baby boy! During one of the most horrible times of our lives, which should have been the best, your group made it fun, exciting and helped us keep our smiles and appreciating all of our blessings. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!!! - M

Please tell all those that are in the Soldiers' Angels organization that I greatly respect them, and greatly appreciate what they have done for me and my family and for all the soldiers of all branches. You and people like you help remind us everyday what and why we are fighting for. I can't express enough in words how happy and grateful I am for the crib you sent to me. All I can say is that it brought tears to my eyes that American People that I have never met stand behind me and support me even though they have never met me. Thank you so very much, and when the baby comes I'll send you a picture of her. - Andrew

THANK YOU so much for all the wonderful gifts you sent my son! My husband is overseas...It was amazing to go out to the mailbox and get such wonderful, thoughtful gifts from people who didn't even know us but wanted to recognize my family's sacrifice! It was such a great feeling to know that you all thought we were special enough to get recognition! Thank You so much! - KG

Operation Top Knot in Action Click on a thumbnail to view a larger image. Click on the close button to close it.