Helping Others is Truly a Way of Life for SDIA!
Happy New Year, Sheep Dog Nation!Over the past few months, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) has been extremely busy with outdoor adventures, Warrior PATHH courses, staffing changes, disaster response missions, our Celebration & Turkey Trot for Heroes 5K, the holidays, and so much more. We are most excited about breaking ground on our dedicated Warrior PATHH Training Facility at Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs!We have much to share...read on for the latest, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
As you are probably aware, last year SDIA purchased 50 acres of property just over the Arkansas border in Pineville, Missouri. This property - named Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs - was immediately put to use for our Outdoor Adventures as well as the Warrior PATHH training program.Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs has two existing Lodges (LCpl Anthony Darbonne Lodge & Senior Chief Joseph Paul Engleman Lodge) and Heroes Ranch Stables. The Darbonne Lodge is mainly used by Outdoor...
Merry Christmas & Happy 2022!
All of us at Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) are so very grateful for your support of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) and the brave men and women that we serve. Our Outdoor Adventures, Warrior PATHH training, and Disaster Response Mission/Continued Service programs - and the positive life-change they inspire - would not be possible without YOU. THANK YOU for believing in SDIA and our mission to engage, assist and empower our nation's Sheep Dogs (Veterans and First Responders). A lot has happened for us in 2021, and SDIA's future looks very bright thanks to you.
Outdoor Adventures: nearly 300 Sheep Dogs participated in 21 adventures.Warrior PATHH: As a proud member of the Gary Sinise Foundation Avalon Network, SDIA has facilitated 8 courses teaching more than 110 Sheep Dogs how to make peace with their past, live in the present & plan for a great future through posttraumatic growth (PTG).Continued Service opportunities (disaster response missions & community-level projects) provided...
JOIN US for our Heroes Ranch Open House!
The holiday season is here and we would love for you to join us on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, from 4:30-7:00PM for our Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs Open House, Chili Cook Off and NWA Chapter Meeting. It's been way too long since we've gotten together, and we hope you can squeeze us in your busy schedule to see Heroes Ranch and learn how we are continuing to improve the lives of our nation's Sheep Dogs with this beautiful property.
Everyone is encouraged to attend, and if you've got a great chili recipe to enter into the Chili Cook Off - bring it! We'll provide the fixings (shredded cheese, sour cream, bread, etc.) and beverages (soda, tea, water).
WHO: ALL Members, Volunteers, Supporters, and anyone interested in SDIAWHEN: Tuesday, December 14, 4:30-7:00PMWHERE: Heroes Ranch at Rush Springs, 335 Eternity Lane, Pineville MOWHY: For camaraderie & socializing as you see Heroes Ranch!
RSVP by December 12 so we can plan appropriately for fixings and...
14th Annual Turkey Trot for Heroes is ONE WEEK AWAY!
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is thrilled that their 14th Annual Turkey Trot for Heroes 5K is an in-person event this year, with options including a traditional 5K, Wild Gobbler 5K, 1-mile Fun Run/Walk and Virtual 5K. Sponsored by Comstar Enterprises, participants will start and end their Thanksgiving morning event at the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s in Rogers beginning at 9:00AM. Registration is open now at https://cutt.ly/sdiaturkeytrot.
The Wild Gobbler 5K is a step up from the traditional 5K with the addition of five exercise stations along the route; exercises can be modified for any fitness level. Each station is dedicated to a fallen Sheep Dog, and the repetitions correspond to a hero. This year’s Fallen Heroes are as follows.
The Turkey Trot for Heroes 5K & Virtual 5K are just $40 per person and the Wild Gobbler 5K is $48. These runners will receive our exclusive Turkey Trot for Heroes t-shirt with their registration,...
SDIA’s Outdoor Celebration is October 9!
Our Outdoor Celebration is two weeks away, and SDIA's CEO & Founder, SgtMaj Lance Nutt, and Guest of Honor Sgt Noah Galloway have a special invitation for you!
https://youtu.be/GLu-mdEwgHQ
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Village on the Creeks, Rogers AR
4:30PM Doors Open6:30PM Program Begins9:00-10:00PM VIP Reception
Join us for a night of celebrating 11 years of Sheep Dog Impact Assistance and our nation's heroes!
Over the past 11 years, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) has grown into a national 501c3 nonprofit. With your help, SDIA has been able to engage, assist and empower thousands of Sheep Dogs in need by helping them #GetOffTheCouch by participating in our three programs:
Outdoor Adventures to engage them with camaraderie and healing;Warrior PATHH training to assist them in learning to transform their struggle into strength; andContinued Service where Sheep Dogs are empowered to discover the power of "Helping is Healing" as they serve others through Disaster Response Missions and community service.
Thank you for making the...
Don’s Story – How YOU Helped Following Hurricane Ida
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) and our Disaster Response (DR) Teams have helped many people during our missions following natural disasters. As we assist those affected, we hear their stories, see their pain, and are blessed to have helped them begin to recover in some small way.
During our Hurricane Ida DR mission September 1-10, 236 SDIA Members and Volunteers deployed to the Houma, Louisiana, area for ten days. They cleared 190 trees, tarped 127 structures, delivered 18,597 lbs of water & food and 1,670 lbs of supplies, and assisted more than 3,413 people. On this particular mission, the DR team prioritized helping local First Responders - 550 of them! Many had damage to their homes, but were unable to take care of it because they were out helping their fellow residents. With SDIA attending to their property, those Sheep Dogs could focus on their work knowing their own families were taken care of.
One First Responder that...
Update #3 – Kilimanjaro: Climb for a Cause
THEY MADE IT!
The Sam's Furniture Kilimanjaro Climb for a Cause was an incredible success, as you can see by the image above!After seven days of climbing through the rainforest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and arctic climates, on smooth, easy trails and steep, rock covered ones, the team worked together to get as many as possible to the summit. A few were unable to make it all the way up, but all have said this was one of the hardest yet most amazing adventures they have ever done.By pushing through the adversities they faced, the purpose of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure was also successful. The grit and determination these heroes exhibited shows that everyone is able to do hard things and overcome the obstacles they are facing. The obstacles may be great, but with the support of others and with tenacity and grit, we have everything needed to overcome those...
Update #2 – Kilimanjaro: Climb for a Cause
Today is SUMMIT DAY!
The guys have been pushing through the pain, exhaustion and altitude to get this far, and TODAY THEY SUMMIT! We cannot thank Sam's Furniture enough for this incredible once-in-a-lifetime adventure for our nation's heroes.
Here's where they've been the past few days.
August 6 - Day 3: Shira 1 Camp (3,500m/11,500ft) to Shira 2 Camp (3,840m/12,600ft)
Elevation Gain: 340 metres / 1,100 feetHiking Time: Approximately 5 hoursHabitat: Moorland
After breakfast, they continued their hike across the rocky ridge onto Shira Plateau, where they saw the easterly side and the western breach with its dramatic glaciers on the west of Kibo Peak. They walked a bit further to reach Shira 2 Camp, which is very exposed and was much colder, with temperatures dropping below freezing.
Elevation Gain: 710 metres / 2,300 feetElevation Loss: 700 metres / 2,250 feetHiking Time: Approximately 6 to 7 hoursHabitat: Alpine...
UPDATE #1 – Kilimanjaro: Climb for a Cause
Our Kilimanjaro: Climb For A Cause team has brought Veterans from all over the US together to do one of the most challenging things they’ve ever done - climb Mt. Kilimanjaro! They have embarked on this challenge to bring awareness to veteran suicide and to show the world that no matter what, you can do and accomplish hard things!
Our Climbers have begun their trek, and will be taking the Lemosho route. They are 8 hours ahead of us, and as of this writing have finished Day 2.
Let’s get you caught up and full of Kilimanjaro facts.
The Climbers departed the US on Sunday, August 1, traveled for 20+ hours, and arrived in Tanzania on August 2, staying in a hotel in Moshi.
August 3 they did a gear check with their guides and porters to ensure everyone had all that they need for a successful climb.
And They’re Off to Climb Kili!
The Sam's Furniture Kilimanjaro Climb for a Cause is FINALLY HERE!
After months of preparation and training, the Climbing Team has arrived in Tanzania!The "Kili Climb for a Cause" Climbing Team, sponsored by Sam’s Furniture in Springdale, Arkansas, includes owners, Joe & Larra Donaldson, a video production team, and ten Veterans - four of which are Purple Heart recipients (single- and double-limb amputees).Be sure to watch our Facebook & Instagram pages (@SheepDogIA) as well as our website for updates on their progress.And once they hit the trail, click this link to see where they are at LIVE!
Our Kili Climbers on the bus in Tanzania.
Meet Our Purple Heart Recipient Climbers
While on his second tour during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, Sgt Galloway lost his left arm above the elbow, his left leg above...