SDIA Assists Communities in Texas and NW Arkansas
During the week of December 28, 2015, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) deployed four Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) to the Rowlett, Texas, area to assist with recovery efforts for those affected by tornadoes that struck the region two days prior. Thanks to the support of our generous donors and sponsors, SDIA deployed disaster response teams to north Texas, as well as flood relief teams to NW Arkansas and SW Missouri communities. Fourteen SDIA members and volunteers from Arkansas, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas converged on the north Texas town of Rowlett, and provided chainsaw operations, debris removal and covered leaky roofs and windows on 34 homes. To see more pictures of the Rowlett DRM, visit our Facebook Album. We owe a special thank you to Larry "LG" Norrell and the crew of Bethel Ranch for allowing our teams to stay at Bethel Ranch. We could not have eaten or slept better if we had been in our own homes.
SDIA Makes Christmas Merry for 230 Sheep Dog Children
What an amazing accomplishment this year by our many SDIA members, volunteers, and supporters. Due to the effort of so many giving and caring people, we were able to make Christmas wishes come true for more than 230 children. All of these kiddos have parents that are currently serving, or have served, in the military or first responder community, and are struggling with financial difficulties this holiday season. The ability of our organization to help those that help make our country a safer place, one where all are capable of celebrating the holiday season in their own special way - our nation's Sheep Dogs - truly brings the meaning of the holiday season to life.
The NWA Chapter and Arkansas River Valley Team distributed gifts at the 2nd annual Christmas Outreach Fun Fest in Rogers, AR. Many of the families that received assistance this Christmas were able to attend, have a great meal and lots of fun. For more photos of...
Christmas Outreach: Adopt a Sheep Dog Child
SDIA's Christmas Outreach is an annual program to adopt the child(ren) of military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS families that are in need of assistance during the holiday season. Each child adopted will receive toys from their wish list, clothing, shoes and other items that they otherwise would not have received. Won't you please help us make the holidays bright for our Sheep Dog families and their children?
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED!
IDENTIFYING FAMILIES IN NEED: Our greatest need is identifying Sheep Dog families with children that need our assistance. If you know of a worthy military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and/or EMS family, please ask them to complete and submit the online application. The family will then be contacted by SDIA Leadership to verify and confirm the information provided; further instructions will also be given. ADOPTING or SPONSORING A CHILD/FAMILY: If you are interested in adopting or sponsoring a...
SDIA and GOVX Announce Partnership
SDIA Veteran & First Responder Members to Receive GovX Membership Benefits Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is always looking for more and better ways to give back to the brave men and women who serve or have served our country in the military and first responder professions. With that in mind, SDIA is proud to announce a new partnership with GovX.com (GovX) which will give SDIA veteran & first responder members immediate access to GovX’s special pricing on premium brands, sports & event tickets and more. "The concept behind SDIA speaks to the GovX culture of supporting all those who have ever protected and served,” stated Marc Van Buskirk, GovX co-founder and vice chair. “GovX aligning with SDIA is of the utmost importance to so many of our members as this partnership continues to show our deep commitment to those that protect and serve. GovX is thankful to be a small part in the SDIA mission.” They will show their support...
Project Giving: Thanksgiving Meals & Turkey Trot 5K 2015 Recaps
PROJECT GIVING: THANKSGIVING MEALS Last week, SDIA Teams and Chapters throughout the US worked tirelessly to bless more than 70 Sheep Dog families through our Project Giving: Thanksgiving Meals program. This holiday program provides a complete traditional Thanksgiving dinner to military and first responder families in need. Thank you to everyone who donated financially or materially to help give these Sheep Dog families a happy Thanksgiving. Our Arkansas River Valley Team and Northwest Arkansas Chapter were blessed to provide Thanksgiving meals for 64 families. To view more photos, visit our Facebook Album. The Eastern TN Team delivered 56 pies to Johnson City and Bristol fire & EMS stations. Team members also served food to those in need at the Family Resource Center at Oak Ridge Schools. The Central AR Chapter spent their third Thanksgiving morning at the VA hospital in Ft. Roots. Members delivered trays to patient's rooms and worked the chow line serving the Thanksgiving...
We are Thankful for YOU!
Thanksgiving is here, and as we each pause to reflect on the many blessings in our lives and the things that we are grateful for, those of us at Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) want to take a moment to thank YOU for your support of SDIA and our missions over the past year. With your donations and support, we have assisted those affected by natural disasters. We have helped engage and empower our nation’s military and first responders in need by involving them in events that provide the camaraderie they need and remind them of their abilities. We have provided our fellow Sheep Dogs with continued service opportunities, allowing them to use their hard-earned skills and training to help others - which in turn helps them. We have delivered Thanksgiving meals to Sheep Dog families in need. And next month, we will give the children of struggling Sheep Dogs a merry Christmas filled with toys and gifts they wouldn’t have otherwise received. YOU have...
SDIA’s 8th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Ready to Run
Remember the joy and excitement you felt as a child on Christmas morning, seeing the gifts under the Christmas tree and tearing through the paper to see what Santa brought you?! Imagine being a child, with a Christmas tree in your home…but no gifts beneath it. This is the reality for hundreds of military and first responder children in Northwest Arkansas and across the United States who will go without gifts and necessities this holiday season. But you can help change that! On Thanksgiving morning (Thur., Nov. 26) from 9:00 to 11:00am, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) will host its 8th Annual Turkey Trot 5K at the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers. All proceeds will provide funding for our Christmas Outreach: Adopt A Sheep Dog Child program which provides toys, clothing, and necessities for the children of Sheep Dog – military and first responder – families in need this Christmas. “Each year we have more...
Recap of Disaster Response Efforts in South Carolina
The month of October 2015 was devastating for South Carolina with historical flooding and damage to much of the state. In response, SDIA deployed Disaster Response Teams to the Columbia, SC, area to assist with relief efforts. The early teams partnered with Tyson Foods and delivered more than 2,000 hot meals - provided by Tyson - to flood victims. SDIA members from North Carolina, Northwest Arkansas, Tennessee, Kansas, and South Carolina were on hand to help in any way possible. Now that flood waters have receded, SDIA members from the Western North Carolina Chapter are continuing to help with general clean up. Over the past few weeks, they have secured 11 homes in the South Beltline-Gills Creek community. Volunteers and supplies are still needed. SDIA members and volunteers interested in assisting with the ongoing, small team efforts should contact Bob Cepeda.
For more images from these efforts, visit SDIA's Facebook Album. Due to the unprecedented damage, this will be an ongoing effort....
SDIA’s 2015 Fall Hunt at Turkey Creek Ranch
The weekend of October 8-11 provided great weather, camaraderie and ample targets for the sponsored veterans and first responders at SDIA's 2015 Fall Hunt. Hosted by Broadway Contracting and ProTrucks of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, this biannual weekend of hunting at Turkey Creek Ranch in NW Texas never disappoints. Our sponsored combat wounded vets and first responders injured in the line of duty had the opportunity to relax and truly be themselves. Whether hunting wild boar or other game, testing their skills at target shooting, or simply bonding with fellow Sheep Dogs and supporters, the time spent here has a profound affect on participants. Often these men have not had someone they can talk with that has first-hand experience and understanding of their emotions and challenges. This peer support is invaluable and is a vital step in helping them. During this hunt we were able to honor the service and sacrifice of SGT. John Dunaway - US Army, CPL....
SDIA Deploying Disaster Response Teams to South Carolina
For much of the past two weeks, South Carolina has been deluged by unrelenting rain, causing historic flooding and damage. Crops are destroyed, dams breached, homes damaged and lives lost, and as the waters begin receding, the real work begins. Furniture and belongings are lining the streets as residents dry out their things and begin their recovery. To assist in these efforts, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) will be deploying disaster response teams to South Carolina in two waves, one this weekend and the other on Monday, October 19. This disaster response effort will have a two-fold mission. The first wave of volunteers will arrive in South Carolina this weekend and will help distribute hot meals to flood victims; Tyson Foods will provide the meals. The second wave will begin helping residents clear debris and conduct muck-out operations. The teams will be in the area through October 25, but may extend the mission depending upon need and resources. To date, 19 counties...