SDIA Sends Supplies, Teams to Help with Louisiana Flood Recovery
During late August and early September, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) sent supplies and Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) to flood-ravaged Louisiana to help with recovery efforts. Water levels in the area had reached the first floor ceilings and damaged thousands of homes and businesses. As heartbreaking as it was to see and work amid this devastation, our Teams were honored to do whatever they could to help. SDIA members and volunteers deployed from the Northwest Arkansas, Kansas, and Greater Cincinnati Chapters the last week in August. They worked long and hard to provide flood recovery assistance to residents in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, area. Donated supplies were dropped off at a depot designated for First Responders only.
In the 5 days that Teams were there, DRTs worked nearly 40 hours mucking (cleaning) out 9 homes, as well as the 911 Dispatch Center in Livingston Parish. Of the 9 homes, six belonged to First Responders or their families. Work included removing water damaged...
Don’t Miss Out – SDIA’s Patriot Day Events are This Weekend!
Don’t miss out on the fun as we honor the fallen and show appreciation for the service and sacrifice of our nation’s Sheep Dogs – those who serve (or have served) in our military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS professions. If you live in Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Northeast Oklahoma, or Eastern North Carolina, we hope you will check out their respective Patriot Day Events! Proceeds from all events will fund SDIA's Holiday programs, so the more money raised means more struggling Veteran and First Responder families will have happy holidays. (Click these links for more information about out Thanksgiving Outreach and Christmas Outreach programs). Held in September each year, SDIA's Patriot Day events honor the lives lost and those injured in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and provides an opportunity to show appreciation for the service and sacrifice of all our nation's Sheep Dogs. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS...
Rafting & Racing Inspire Sheep Dogs
They started arriving in North Carolina on Thursday, August 4, and by Friday, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) had 70+ veterans, first responders and supporters gathered to participate in their Western North Carolina Chapter’s Adventure Weekend. This annual adventure culminates in running the Asheville Spartan Super, and for 30 of the participants, the race would be a test of how far they had come since being injured in combat or the line of duty - and a reminder that no matter the obstacle, they can overcome it all with their brothers and sisters by their side. The Sheep Dogs started their weekend with a hearty breakfast at the Dixie Diner in Hendersonville on Friday morning, followed by white water rafting on the Nantahala River.
James Hurn, Deputy Sheriff with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, summed up the experience the best. “I thought it was going to be a typical rafting trip,” he said. “But I quickly learned that when you...
Skydiving Events Renew Spirits of Sponsored Sheep Dogs
Ask someone if they want to skydive, and you are sure to get one of two adamant answers – “YES! Let’s do it!” or “Are you CRAZY?! Why would I jump out of a perfectly good airplane?!” Fortunately for the willing, both the Northwest Arkansas Chapter and Michigan Team of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) recently held skydiving events – with the others enjoying the excitement and camaraderie with their feet firmly on the ground. While some members of SDIA have jumped as part of their military training, not all did. For those who stayed on the ground or in the plane, skydiving may provide the rush of combat or other intensive training in a very new way. This was the case for sponsored first-time skydiver USMC Cpl Justin Denslow at the Michigan Team’s July 3 event held at Skydive Tecumseh. After being diagnosed with PTSD upon his return from Afghanistan, Cpl Denslow tried various treatments/training to manage his symptoms...
SDIA Assists West Virginians Following Severe Flooding
For 5 days earlier this month, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) worked tirelessly to provide disaster recovery assistance to residents of West Virginia by conducting home muck-out & debris removal, chainsaw operations, and other relief efforts as needed. Nearly 30 SDIA members and volunteers deployed from the Northwest Arkansas Chapter, Eastern Tennessee Team, Kansas Chapter, Western North Carolina Chapter, and the Southwest Virginia Team. SDIA’s on-site Incident Commander, Eastern TN Team Leader Chadd Landress, reported that by the end of the mission, DRTs worked 360 man hours and mucked (cleaned) out 41 homes; of these homes, 11 were home to Veterans or families of Veterans, 1 was Law Enforcement, and 2 were families of Firefighters. DRTs also assisted with unloading & sorting donated products, provided basic first aid to a few individuals, and other assistance as requested.
Helping West Virginia residents in need not only provided SDIA members with an opportunity to use their skills and training, it...
SDIA’s Unforgettable Adventure at Yosemite National Park
After 5 days of camping in and exploring the vast and magnificent Yosemite National Park, the Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) group was tired, but refreshed and invigorated by their experiences. As special guests of the National Park Service as they celebrate their 100th anniversary, the 60+ Sheep Dogs and family members who participated in this Outdoor Adventure were treated to upgraded camp sites, a special tour, and the opportunity to discover all this incredible park has to offer. From May 29 through June 2, SDIA guests visited Tuolumne Meadows, swam at snow melt Tenaya Lake, summited waterfall peaks, and hiked and explored the meadows, ponds, rivers and mountains surrounding them. A highlight for many was the private guided tram-ride tour of Yosemite Valley by the Park Rangers; during the tour, Rangers thanked our sponsored Sheep Dogs for their service and for honoring the Park by spending Memorial Day week in Yosemite.
For all who were there, being unplugged from technology,...
SDIA’s Arkansas Chapters Team Up for Major Patriot Day Event at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is excited to announce a joint venture between their Northwest Arkansas and Central Arkansas chapters, and the Arkansas River Valley Team, to host their largest Patriot Day event to date. The 6th Annual Patriot Day festival will be held on Sat., Sept. 10, 2016, in a new, larger location – War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. In the stadium, teams from all over the region will compete in the first Patriot Bowl 8-on-8 Flag Football Tournament. The tournament will be going at the same time as our Patriot Day Festival in the parking lot.
This event is the perfect opportunity for children and adults to get to know their local Sheep Dogs – the men and women who make up our military and first responder professions. Attendees can meet them, learn about what they do, and see and touch vehicles and equipment, watch K9 and rescue demonstrations, visit interactive displays, children’s activities, vendor booths, and more activities throughout...
4th Annual Charity Ball Funds 35 Sheep Dogs for Yosemite Adventure
Last Friday, April 22, we held our 4th Annual Charity Ball at the John Q. Hammons Convention Center in Rogers. With over 350 people in attendance, and special musical guests Backroad Anthem, we were blown away by the generosity shown by everyone. Our goal for the evening was to recognize the best of our nation’s Military & First Responders, and our supporters, as well as to raise money to sponsor a few of the 35 combat wounded veterans and first responders injured in the line of duty for our Outdoor Adventure to Yosemite National Park next month. We are astonished and proud to share that net proceeds of over $25,000 will help sponsor ALL 35 of these men and women for this once-in-a-lifetime trip. While this trip will be fun and exciting, participating in outdoor adventures is vital to the healing of our sponsored individuals; these adventures present them with new challenges to test their rehabilitation skills, restore independence and...
SDIA’s 2016 Spring Hog Hunt
Another great bi-annual Sheep Dog Hog Hunt is in the books! Hunting at Turkey Creek Ranch in NW Texas never disappoints, and the teams from Broadway Contracting and ProTrucks that make these hunts possible, always deliver one of the best experiences around. It's more than "just a hunt;" these weekends give our sponsored combat wounded vets and first responders injured in the line of duty the camaraderie that they've been missing as well as a welcoming environment to truly relax and be themselves. Whether it's hunting wild boar, turkeys, jack rabbits, and coyotes, or simply testing their skills at target shooting, the opportunity to bond with fellow Sheep Dogs and supporters is priceless.
During this hunt we honored the service and sacrifice of SGT. Adam Holland, SGT. 1st Class Dan Moss, Patrol Officer Zac McArthur, and SGT. Justin Bryant. Their dedication and commitment to our nation is to be commended, and the blood and sweat they sacrificed, should...
3rd Annual Heroes Ruck Challenge a Huge Success!
The 3rd Annual Heroes Ruck Challenge was a resounding success thanks to volunteers, staff and, of course, the participants! The Challenge was held on Sat., March 19, at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. The course covered 15.3 miles, beginning at the Clinton Presidential Center grounds, winding through downtown Little Rock, up River Trail Rd to the Big Dam Bridge, crossing over to Cook’s Landing and back to the Clinton Presidential Center using the Arkansas River Trail. Each mile along the route honored the sacrifice of a fallen service member or first responder. $3,500 was raised for SDIA’s mission to engage, assist and empower our military veterans and first responders in need with continued service opportunities, holiday assistance and outdoor adventures.
13 teams and 16 individuals participated in the Challenge. Winners for each division are as follows.
Individual Winner – Jonathon Polk 2:20:34 Active Duty Team – EOMFD 4:06:52 Collegiate Team Winner - UCA SROTC BEAR BN –...