Service to others

These Dallas nonprofits proudly salute and support American veterans

Carry The Load’s flagship event is the Dallas Memorial March.

November is the month when we pause to honor and remember our nation's veterans. But there are many ways to show tangible, meaningful support beyond waving flags at a Veterans Day parade or packing up holiday care packages for the troops.

These Dallas-area nonprofits are making sure of it.

In recent months, we at CultureMap have been taking a look at charities making a difference in the community, including those that impact the lives of veterans. CultureMap's new Dallas Charity Guide, presented in partnership with Frost's Opt for Optimism campaign, is a one-stop resource for locals looking for ways to give back.

Here’s a look at some Dallas nonprofits that salute and support military veterans, as well as law enforcement, first responders, and other heroes. Know of a group that should be added? Tell us here.

Carry the Load
Mission: Carry The Load is a nonprofit dedicated to providing active, meaningful ways to honor and celebrate the sacrifices made by our nation's heroes: military, law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders. What started as a mission to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day has broadened to include more than just our military heroes and more than just the one holiday. Carry The Load works to bring all Americans together to participate in honoring our nation's heroes every day.
Get involved: In addition to volunteering with Carry The Load's Dallas Memorial March and other year-round events, volunteers are occasionally needed in Carry the Load's national office throughout the year. For more information on volunteering, head here.
Major fundraiser: Carry The Load’s flagship event, the Dallas Memorial March, is a two-day embodiment of the values Carry The Load hopes to further: a celebration of heroes, remembrance of the fallen, and education in respectful observance. The Dallas Memorial March is also the culmination of Memorial Day fundraising activities to benefit the group's Continuum of Care partners. The event features music, inspirational speeches, stories of fallen heroes, flag ceremonies, and more. Funds raised go to support programs that provide direct services to the nation's military, law enforcement, firefighters, first responders, and their families. The Dallas Memorial March is the conclusion of two national relays that have traveled more than 6,400 miles to Dallas carrying the American flag.

DeCruit at Amphibian Stage Productions
Mission: Created by army veteran and trained Shakespearean actor Stephan Wolfert, DeCruit helps veterans work through their personal struggles post-service through theater classes. In his time of transition back into society after serving six years in the army, Wolfert discovered Shakespeare's words about the throes of war and the people who fought them. He connected with the pain and joys they faced. The program he created helps veterans communicate through written material and their own experience and walks them on a path to healing from post-traumatic stress.
Get involved: To give to DeCruit and for a listing of upcoming shows to attend, head here.

Equest
Mission: Equest enhances the quality of life for children and adults with diverse needs, including veterans, by partnering with horses to bring hope and healing. This is done through equine-assisted activities and therapies, including a variety of programs that include therapeutic horsemanship, hippotherapy (which is when the client receives physical, occupational, and speech therapy while mounted on the horse, using the movement of the horse to accomplish therapy treatment goals), and therapeutic carriage driving, which provides an opportunity to participate in equine-assisted therapy while "mounted" in a carriage for those with special needs who cannot or do not wish to be mounted on a horse.
Get involved: Equest offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups — no prior horse experience is required. Equest teaches volunteers everything they need to know at various volunteer training sessions throughout the year.
Membership: The Equest Women's Auxiliary (WAUX) was founded in 1986 with the purpose of supporting and promoting Equest. What began as a small group of women with good intentions has grown into an auxiliary of over 250 women, and a signature event, the Women's Auxiliary Luncheon and Style Show, chaired by a prominent leader in the Dallas community.
Major fundraiser: Equest's signature fundraising event, Boots & Salutes, is a USO-style tribute fundraiser benefiting Equest's Hooves for Heroes program, which promotes the well-being and mental health of veterans and their families through equestrian therapies and counseling. The fun-filled, high-energy celebration features a WWII T-6 Texan fly-over, live Frank Sinatra-inspired music by Dave Halston, "Boogey Woogie Bugle Boy" dancers from the Dallas Swing Dance Society, casual gourmet food and beverage stations, and tributes to the men and women who have served our country to protect our freedom.

Honor Flight DFW
Mission: Honor Flight DFW honors veterans for the sacrifices they have made to keep the nation safe by providing them with an all-expense paid trip to visit the memorials in Washington, D.C. These memorials symbolize the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of these American heroes.
Get involved: Older warriors could not make this trip without the caring assistance of the Honor Flight DFW Guardians. You can also donate to Honor Flight DFW here.
Major fundraiser: Honor Flight DFW hosts an annual golf classic fundraiser in October to raise funds for the charity. To learn more, click here.

Sons of the Flag
Mission: Sons of the Flag is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting military, first responder, and civilian burn survivors by providing funding for innovative research. They bring together passionate community leaders, pioneering physicians, experienced military service members, dedicated first responders, and purposeful civilians to complete that mission. The ultimate goal of Sons of the Flag is to accelerate the process of testing leading technologies and pushing them into circulation for immediate use. This will aid the recovery and lives of burn survivors across the nation.
Get involved: SOTF Task Force Leaders are unpaid volunteers who are willing to give their time and talent to improving the lives of burn survivors and their families, and host at least one fundraising event each year. TFLs work to develop a relationship with the burn unit in their region, serving as a conduit between SOTF and the burn unit. TFLs attend one fire service conference per year to help recruit new TFLs, and work as a team to collectively advance the mission of SOTF. If you are interested in becoming a Task Force Leader, click here.
Major fundraiser: Sons of the Flag hosts its Stars & Stripes Luncheon and Film Festival with a major veteran related speaker and films around Veteran’s Day. It also hosts firemanship conferences and Country 4 Country, a concert, dinner, and auction.

charity-guide

Pestilence News

New invasive pest in Texas is destroying grasses and pasture

TAMU

Mealyworm is small but damaging.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has issued an urgent alert to farmers to inspect their pastures for a newly detected and highly damaging pest: the pasture mealybug (Helicococcus summervillei).

According to a release from the Department of Agriculture (TDA), this invasive species, never before reported in North America, has been confirmed in multiple Texas counties and is already causing significant damage to pasture acreage across the southeast portion of the state.

The pasture mealybug causes “pasture dieback,” leaving expanding patches of yellowing, weakened, and ultimately dead turf.

This pest was first detected in Australia in 1928; its first detection in the Western Hemisphere occurred in the Caribbean between 2019 and 2020.

The TDA is working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to coordinate a rapid response and protect Texas producers.

Mealybug history
Although the mealybug is just now being spotted, researchers suspect it may have been introduced before 2022.

Since mid-April 2025, southern Texas pasture and hay producers have been reporting problems in their fields. These fields show grass patches becoming brown or necrotic, or patches that are completely dead. Originally, it was presumed that symptoms were caused by another mealybug called the Rhodes grass mealybug, which has been reported in the U.S. since 1942. However, further investigations confirm that it's this new pasture mealybug (Heliococcus summervillei).

It has devastated millions of acres of grazing land in Australia and has since spread globally. Its rapid reproduction, hidden soil-level feeding, and broad host range make it a significant threat to pasture health and livestock operations.

MealybugTAMU

Adult females are approximately 2-5 mm long, covered in a white, waxy coating. They are capable of producing nearly 100 offspring within 24 hours, resulting in several generations per season. While adult females can live for up to 100 days, most damage is inflicted by the youngest nymphs, which feed on plant sap and inject toxic saliva that causes grass to yellow, weaken, and die.

“This is a completely new pest to our continent, and Texas is once again on the front lines,” Commissioner Miller says. “If the pasture mealybug spreads across Texas grazing lands like it has in eastern Australia, it could cost Texas agriculture dearly in lost productivity and reduced livestock capacity. TDA is working hand-in-hand with federal and university partners to respond swiftly and protect our producers from this unprecedented threat.”

Houston has a problem
The estimated impact area currently covers 20 counties, primarily in the Houston area, including: Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Goliad, Dewitt, Lavaca, Fayette, Jackson, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, Wharton, Colorado, Austin, Washington, Burleson, Brazos, and Robertson. AgriLife entomologists have submitted a formal Pest Incident Worksheet documenting significant damage to pastures and hayfields in Victoria County.

Research trials are underway to determine the best integrated pest management options. Currently, there is no known effective labeled insecticide for pasture mealybug.

Affected plants include: Bermudagrass, Bahia grass, Johnsongrass, hay grazer (sorghum–sudangrass), St. Augustine grass, various bluestem species, and other tropical or subtropical grasses. Damage can occur in leaves, stems, and roots.

Symptoms:

Yellowing and discoloration of leaves within a week of infestation
Purpling or reddening of foliage
Stunted growth and drought stress despite rainfall
Poorly developed root systems
Dieback starting at leaf tips and progressing downward
Premature aging, making plants more vulnerable to pathogens

How to spot it

Scout regularly for mealybugs on grass leaves, stems, soil surface, leaf litter, and under cow patties
Focus on unmanaged areas such as fence lines, ungrazed patches, and roadsides
Look for fluffy, white, waxy, or “fuzzy” insects on blades and stems
If plants appear unhealthy and insects match this description, investigate further

“Early identification is critical, and we need every producer’s eyes on the ground,” Commissioner Miller added. “We are working diligently with our federal and state partners to determine how to best combat this novel threat and stop it in its tracks.”

If you observe suspicious symptoms or insects matching the descriptions above, contact TDA at 1-800-TELL-TDA immediately.

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