The Binky Brigade was started in 2008 by Air Force Staff Sergeant Angela Parker and her mother, Becky Shumaker. The Binky Brigade provides small, cuddly blankets to children of war-torn areas. The blankets are sent to deployed US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for them to distribute among the local children.  This not only provides comfort to children who are witnesses to the perils of war on a daily basis, but also allows our troops to foster a positive relationship with the locals they are trying to protect.

SSgt Parker came up with the idea of The Binky Brigade after seeing her infant son Cash’s reaction to a small camouflage blanket he received from his Grandma Linda Parker. Cash loves to rub the fuzzy fabric between his fingers and carries his “binky” with him everywhere.

SSgt Parker’s husband, SSgt James Parker, deploys to the Middle East frequently and she is left at home to play both Mom & Dad to Cash on top of her active duty commitments to the Air Force. Although James doesn’t have direct contact with local children when he is deployed, he has ventured outside of the base confines to see the local community. He is typically deployed to a relatively safe area and is still shocked by the destitution he sees. Both James and Angela have fellow co-workers and close friends deployed around the world at any given time. She has enlisted the help of those individuals to get the message of The Binky Brigade out to the local communities and hopes that even something small like a “binky” will bring a smile to the face of children that desperately need and deserve it.

Our Founders

Angela Parker                                      Becky Shumaker