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...
Tunnel to Towers Weekend an Emotional, Healing Adventure in NYC
Reading about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Race (T2T), an annual event in New York City, and how it began tugs at the heartstrings of most Americans. Its background is a story that played out countless times on that fateful day, September 11, 2001. T2T is in honor of Stephen Siller, a firefighter with Squad 1 in Brooklyn, and NYC Sheep Dogs – our protectors, the men and women who serve or have served in our military and/or first responder professions – who rushed in to help those in the towers. The race route retraces Siller’s final footsteps through the tunnel to Freedom Tower and the 9/11 Memorial. When Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) learned about this race, they knew they needed to participate. With SDIA’s membership made up of Sheep Dogs, it was only natural for them to join the event to honor and support NYC and Sheep Dogs who sacrificed their lives or put their lives on...
SDIA Chapters Host Successful 2015 Patriot Day Events
On Sat., Sept. 12, SDIA Chapters held numerous Patriot Day events across the US. The National Office & Northwest Arkansas Chapter held their 5th Annual Patriot Day event at the Bentonville Municipal Airport in Bentonville, Arkansas. They enjoyed fantastic weather and a crowd of an estimated 4,000. Attendees got to meet their local Sheep Dogs, see military and first responder vehicles and aircraft, rescue demonstrations, take helicopter rides, honored those who died on September 11, 2001, and learned more about SDIA and their missions. After all was said and done, nearly $7,000 was raised for their Project Giving: Thanksgiving Meals program. To see photos from the event, visit the SDIA Facebook Album "2015 Patriot Day". The Northwest Arkansas Chapter also held their first Golf Tournament on Mon., Sept. 14, at Shadow Valley Country Club. There were 13 four-man teams participating and included 12 Combat Wounded Veterans. Fantastic support and prizes poured in...
SDIA Dominates Spartan Super in Asheville
What an amazing day! On Sat., Aug. 29, our recently chartered SDIA Western NC Chapter hosted 23 Combat Wounded Veterans and First Responders injured in the line of duty for the Spartan Super Race in Asheville, NC. In addition to their sponsored participants, more than 30 SDIA Members and supporters from across the US joined in on the race. WNC members and staff put a lot of time and effort into this event, and we could not have asked for a better effort in making this such a special event. Watching all the Warriors persevere to finish 8.5 miles and 25 obstacles was inspiring to say the least!
This is going to be an annual weekend event in WNC, so if you would like to join the team next year for some white water rafting and Spartan Race adventure racing, start making plans now.
For more exciting and motivating pictures from the
Central AR Chapter Hosts Dive to “Fearless Rock – the Underwater Adam Brown Memorial”
On Saturday, Aug 22nd, our Central Arkansas Chapter had the amazing opportunity to dive to "Fearless Rock - the Underwater Adam Brown Memorial" on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, AR. As part of this special dive, SDIA sponsored five Combat Wounded Veterans and First Responders injured in the Line of Duty. For many of those participating, it was their very first dive, and an opportunity to see the world in a whole new way.
"Fearless Rock - the Underwater Adam Brown Memorial" was placed on July 27, 2013, at Blakely Dam in Lake Ouachita in the Hot Springs, Arkansas and is accessible to both land & boat based divers. The memorial is for Chief Special Warfare Operator Adam Lee Brown, who was a US Navy SEAL and Hot Springs, Arkansas, native. Adam’s life was the subject of the book, "Fearless: The Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice of Navy SEAL Team SIX Operator Adam...
SDIA Florida Team Assists Army Veteran, Flood Victims
SDIA's newly formed Florida Team is already making a difference in their communities!
In August the Team deployed on an extended Disaster Response Mission (DRM) to help with flood ravaged areas in Pasco County. Their team of 8 rotated throughout the mission, and assisted the local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in assessing homes, as well as bringing food & supplies to flood victims, and filling over 80 sandbags for 30 homes. The Team also helped distribute 100 flood buckets (filled with cleaning supplies & materials) and mops/brooms to victims, which were donated by Trinity Lutheran Church. Refuge Church in Holiday, Florida, provided space to store the supplies. Thank you to everyone who donated time, supplies and money to ensure this DRM could help as many people as possible.
After the Team completed their DRT mission, members of the team went to work repairing the home of 76-year-old veteran Robert Baker, who served 14-years in the Army...
SDIA’s South TX Chapter Presents Service Dog to Wheelchair-Bound Veteran
In late July, SDIA's South TX Chapter had the honor of assisting with the placement of a highly-trained service dog to a veteran in need. Daniel is a Combat Wounded Army Veteran who is wheelchair-bound as a result of injuries sustained while on patrol in Iraq in October 2006. His platoon was providing security and as he checked security points, Daniel was shot in the neck and paralyzed. Because of this, he required a service dog that would be able to pull him in his wheelchair, as well as all other typical service dog skills. Enter Morgan Pierce of Performance Canine, Inc. and Kyla, an 11-month old Malinois. Morgan worked with Daniel and Kyla, and they couldn't be happier at the improvement in Daniel's quality of life. The South TX Chapter - and all of SDIA - is extremely honored to have played a small part in this match, and are excited for Daniel and Kyla. (Photos by...