The DAR Community Service Award provides a unique opportunity for chapters to provide a non-competitive recognition to worthy individuals and organizations for outstanding voluntary service. The contribution to the community could be through voluntary heroic, civic, benevolent services, or by organizing or participating in community services. The activity must have taken place in the last five years with no compensation.
This year’s recipient started her service because she likes to make people smile. As a farm wife, mother, and having worked for many years outside the home, she kept busy. Alliann Hoffman loves to help others and see the smiles. She was known as the “sucker lady” at the IGA, bringing smiles to many faces during her employment. She was a mentor and friend to younger employees. She enjoyed chatting with customers and made many new friends at the store over the years.
Her love of helping others and leftover yarn led her to crochet blankets and offer them online to folks to give as gifts. She still takes orders for special colors. As that took off, people started to contact her with “extra” yarn, donating it to her blanket service and she was off and crocheting. Though she purchases some of her yarn, the many donations have helped her to continue her dream, which she appreciates.
Since January 2023, the number of donated blankets has swelled to over 400. Alliann has donated her blankets to both the city and county law enforcement for use when they have children in tough situations that need comfort, Crisis Nursery of Effingham County, Effingham County Health Department, nursing homes including those in Effingham and most recently Heartland in Neoga, the HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital pediatric department, Crossroads Cancer Center, Enduring Freedom Ministries, El Shaddai Homes, Family Life Center, and to hurricane relief in North Carolina, as well as to friends and family that need a blanket hug.
At holiday time, Alliann, and her friend, Tara Hagen, along with Tara’s son Austin, have visited both Lakeland and Evergreen nursing facilities with blankets (crocheted and fleece that they have made) and grippy socks all wrapped up for residents who have no close family or visitors. In 2024, they blessed 33 residents with a Christmas surprise.
Alliann’s blankets are colorful. People often ask her how she chooses which color will be next.
“Well, I have a box of plain yarn and I have types of variegated yarn in a 5-gallon bucket. I close my eyes, reach in either the box or bucket and grab a ball of yarn. I don’t specifically choose what is next. And that’s how my blankets turn out the way they do!” said Alliann.
Alliann’s blankets of many colors have brought many smiles to the community and her heartfelt volunteerism makes the community a better place.