SDIA Deploys Disaster Response Team to Northern Illinois
Tornado season is upon us, and for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) that means being ready to hit the road with chainsaws, tarps and able bodies to assist communities in need at a moment’s notice. On Friday, April 10, at 4:00PM, that’s exactly what happened. SDIA deployed a team of six Northwest Arkansas members and volunteers who headed north to Illinois to help the community of Kirkland, one of a few areas ravaged by tornadoes. Once in northern Illinois, the NWA team met up with other SDIA members from Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Tennessee and went to find people to help. Following the path of the tornado, the team saw areas that were virtually untouched – like a mobile home park in Rochelle – as well as areas with larger homes that were completely destroyed. Finding the Kirkland neighborhood gave the SDIA team the opportunity to assist residents by clearing downed trees, covering leaking windows and roofs, and talking with its...
SDIA Presents PTSD Service Dog to Bentonville Veteran, Dan Moss
Since returning home after serving 24 years and three combat tours in the U.S. Army, veteran Dan Moss has struggled in his transition to civilian life. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, has had a dramatic negative impact on his day-to-day life. But that is beginning to change. In the ten days since Moss was presented with Justice, a rescued 1-1/2 year old German shepherd trained as a PTSD Service Dog, improvements have occurred at a regular rate. Moss’s wife, Judy, noticed that after only a few days with Justice, her husband showed fewer signs of hyper vigilance at the presentation ceremony. “Dan was able to stand almost the entire ceremony with his back to the door,” she said. “That NEVER happens.” Moss has noticed other ways Justice is helping him. “It hasn’t been without some stress [adjusting to each other],” he explained. “That in itself helps because it gives me a single focal point, so I’m not constantly surveying the environment –...
SDIA’s First Upland Game Bird Hunt
The weekend of March 27-29, 2015, boasted beautiful weather and excellent hunting conditions, and Bethel Ranch in north Texas provided the perfect location for a successful Upland Game Bird Hunt for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) and sponsored participants Officer JR Boggs, Cpl. Cody Jones and Cpl. Sebastian Gallegos. JR Boggs, a police officer for Pasadena ISD in Texas, was a first responder sponsored to participate in the hunt. “It was an amazing experience,” he said. “Knowing that others – who I hadn’t even met yet – cared about me enough to give me a weekend away…it was astonishing.” Boggs was already looking forward to the hunt, but after responding to an early morning, horrific accident earlier that week, the timing could not have been any better. “The call came in at 7:15am,” he said. “15 minutes before my shift, while I was dropping off my 4-year-old son and almost 5-year-old daughter at preschool.” Boggs...
SDIA’S 3RD ANNUAL CHARITY BALL A HUGE SUCCESS
Sheep Dogs of the Year Honored, Nearly $16,000 Raised for Veteran/First Responder ProgramsRogers, AR (February 25, 2015) – The 3rd Annual Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) Charity Ball was held on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at the Embassy Suites in Rogers. Over 250 people attended the formal fundraising event, including SDIA members and volunteers, sponsors, military and first responders, as well as the general public. Nearly $16,000 was raised during the evening; all proceeds will fund SDIA’s disaster relief missions and Sheep Dog in Need programs throughout 2015. The Charity Ball’s special guests included two Combat Wounded Veterans: speaker Sgt Matthew Melancon, and guest of honor Cpl Nick Perales. Following the opening ceremonies and a performance by the Ozark Highlanders Pipe Band, Sgt Melancon spoke to attendees about his life prior to his injuries, joining the Army, the IED attack that eventually claimed both his lower legs, and the subsequent lessons learned from being a bilateral amputee. His speech brought both...
2015 SDIA Charity Ball To Honor Heroes
If you’re looking for a unique way to treat yourself or your significant other this Valentine’s Day, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) has just the event for you! SDIA is proud to announce that their 3rd Annual Charity Ball will be on Sat., Feb. 14, 2015, at the Embassy Suites in Rogers, Arkansas, giving you the opportunity to dress up, dine and dance with your sweetheart, and help us honor our nation's Sheep Dogs - society's protectors, the men and women who have served or are currently serving in our military and first responder professions.The Ball’s special guest speakers are Cpl Nick Perales and Sgt Matthew Melancon, both Combat Wounded Veterans. Texas native Corporal Nick Perales served six years as a U.S. Marine Corps scout sniper and served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In February 2011, he was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) incident where he sustained numerous injuries that resulted in a below-the-knee amputation of his right...
SDIA Makes Christmas Come True For More Than 230 Children Of Military and First Responders
SDIA Makes Christmas Come True For More Than 230 Children Of Military and First Responders 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 which, have parents who are currently serving, or have served, in the military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, or ems services, and are struggling with financial difficulties this Holiday Season. As part of this year’s Christmas Outreach efforts, SDIA Chapters and Teams across the country found unique ways to bring Christmas to life for the children of Sheep Dogs everywhere. SDIA members in multiple locations, like New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Virginia, and more, went above and beyond this year in an effort to make our efforts a success. “Our Christmas Outreach recipients are Sheep Dog families who are struggling...
“PROJECT GIVING” PROVIDES THANKSGIVING MEALS TO SHEEP DOG FAMILIES IN NEED
When times are good, it’s easy to take for granted the fact that our basic needs – and often many of our wants - are met. For families struggling during the holiday season, “little” things like a holiday meal can be replaced or foregone because of more pressing needs like paying for medical expenses and treatment, clothing needs or other necessities. SDIA is honored to be able to help many of our fellow Sheep Dog families in need by providing them with a complete Thanksgiving meal, including a turkey, ham, vegetables, and pie! Many of our Chapters and Teams - including the Northwest AR Chapter, Kansas Team, St. Louis Chapter, NY Metro Team, Eastern NC Chapter and the Houston Chapter - were able to gather donations and give fellow Sheep Dog families a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving meal this year. When all the packing & delivering was done, SDIA was able to feed more than 400 Sheep Dogs and their family members. Thank you...
SDIA’s 7th ANNUAL TURKEY TROT 5K RAISES OVER $12,000 FOR GIFTS FOR SHEEP DOG CHILDREN IN NEED
On Thanksgiving morning, over 600 people came out to participate in SDIA’s 7th Annual NWA Turkey Trot 5K, Wild Gobbler, and 1 Mile Fun-Walk at the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers, with all proceeds going to help provide toys, clothing, and necessities for the children of Sheep Dog (military and first responders) families in need this holiday season.
“Each year we have more and more run participants,” said SgtMaj Lance Nutt, SDIA’s president and founder. “That means we get to help more Sheep Dog families and children in need…and this year we have more children to help than ever before.” To date, the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of SDIA will be adopting over 130 children, with an additional 75 children nationwide. Anticipating last minute requests, SDIA will likely help more than 225 children of Sheep Dogs in need have a Christmas full of joy and excitement when they see their gifts under the Christmas tree.
Thank you to everyone who has helped Sheep...
SDIA & SKYRANCH SKYDIVING SPONSOR COMBAT WOUNDED VETERANS FOR PARACHUTE JUMPS
If you looked up in the sky over Siloam Springs, Arkansas, late in the afternoon on Sunday, October 12, 2014, you may have noticed that the sky had a few unusual fliers in it. That’s because Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) partnered with Skydive Skyranch in Siloam Springs to sponsor some Combat Wounded Veterans for tandem parachute jumps. The Veterans had both sustained significant injuries during their tours of duty, including amputation of one or both lower legs.
Weather caused the original jump date to be rescheduled, and this same weather system delayed Sunday’s fun as well. The veterans – Cpl Cody Jones (USMC) and Sgt Matthew Melancon (US Army) – and a couple of SDIA members had to wait most of the day for jump clearance. While the group waited, a BBQ and Social was held for their members, volunteers, families and friends.
For Cpl Jones, this was his first time skydiving. “It was amazing!” said Jones. “I’d always wanted to...
2014 NWA Turkey Trot 5K Charity Run & Fun Walk
Benefiting - Sheep Dog Impact Assistance and their Holiday Outreach Program
**Registration and T-shirts** Registration Fee same day as the race will be $25.00. We have shirts for the first 400 runners & wild gobblers, so register early!
Event: 2014 Turkey Trot/5K Charity Run, 1-Mile Fun Walk, and the 5K Wild Gobbler (Adventure Run and Workout - see more info below) at the Center for Nonprofits @ St Mary’s in the heart of Rogers, AR.
Register at: https://2014nwaturkeytrot.eventbrite.com
Date / Time: Thursday, November 27th, 2014, Race Start Time is 9:00 AM.
Location: Center for Non-Profits at the former St. Mary’s Hospital in Rogers, AR.
Organizers: The 2014 Turkey Trot Committee, comprised of Northwest Arkansas community volunteers and philanthropists, seek to provide a fun family event, benefiting our "Sheep Dogs" - our military, law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS personnel in need.
Participants: This race is open to the general public, any and all race/fun walk enthusiasts are encouraged to attend, including supporters and...