SDIA Outdoor Adventure to Machu Picchu this July!
Want to check hiking Machu Picchu off your bucket list? Join Sheep Dog Impact Assistance July 24 - August 5 and travel to Peru with Legend Treks to serve the people of Cusco, Pisac, Puno and Lake Titicaca with much needed eye clinics. Halfway through the trip, you will have your opportunity to hike Machu Picchu and be guided on a tour of this archeological site’s history and significance. (Visit our Facebook page to see images from our 2017 exploratory trip.)
The total cost of this trip is estimated at $2,000-2,500. Expenses include the following. (Note: There are no sponsorships available for this trip.)
Flights are $950-1,250 round trip; it is recommended to fly through Houston (IAH) to Lima to Cusco; flights also go through Bogota, Columbia, to Cusco. The earlier you book your flights, the more money you will save. Land Cost package is $950 and includes transportation to/from the airport in Cusco, baggage fees, Machu Picchu...
SDIA & Fallin Feathers Partner for Final 2017 Hunt
Last month, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) sent three Sheep Dogs in Need on our final Outdoor Adventure of 2017 . They were welcomed by Fallin Feathers Duck Club in Pocahontas, AR, for two exciting days of duck hunting December 12-14, 2017. In addition to incredible hunting grounds, the atmosphere at Fallin Feathers helped foster the camaraderie many Sheep Dogs search for outside their military and/or first responder professions. Getting injured veterans and first responders off the couch and around other Sheep Dogs who have been through similar situations is vital to inspiring a positive state of mind and perspective for the Sheep Dog and their family.
We are excited to announce Fallin Feathers will partner with SDIA for another hunt this month (January 15-18), and hopefully many more to come. Know of a Sheep Dog in need who would benefit from the camaraderie and excitement of our Outdoor Adventures? Go to sheepdogia.org for more...
Christmas Outreach Makes Holiday Bright for Sheep Dog Families in Need
The scene at SDIA's 4th Annual Christmas Outreach Party on Saturday, December 16, was one of joy and excitement for all the children and families in attendance. Because of the generosity of so many giving and caring people, SDIA made Christmas wishes come true for more than 250 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 SDIA to help those that make our country a safer place - our nation's Sheep Dogs - truly brings the meaning of the holiday season to life. Our Christmas Outreach party is an event that we look forward to every year; we invite the families we are helping for Christmas and make sure they know how much we appreciate them during this special time of year. We cannot say Thank You enough to the many volunteers and businesses - like Walmart...
Give to SDIA on #GivingTuesday and Your Donation Could Be Doubled!
Black Friday. Small Business Saturday. Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday. Beginning at 7am CST on Tues., Nov. 28, Facebook and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match up to $50,000 per nonprofit or $1,000 per fundraiser/donate button - meaning YOUR DONATION could be DOUBLED! It's simple - just visit our Facebook page on Tuesday at 8am and make your donation with our Donate button. Your donation to Sheep Dog Impact Assistance will allow us to ENGAGE, ASSIST and EMPOWER more of our nation's Sheep Dogs - military & first responders - than ever before. Every dollar you give will help fund our Disaster Response, Outdoor Adventures, and Holiday Assistance programs. These programs are a crucial element in helping our heroes - especially those injured in combat or the line of duty - continue to have a positive mindset and perspective. How do these programs help?
For Sheep Dogs, the standard of camaraderie and peer support is very high. Without...
Christmas and Hunting Don’t Go Together…or Do They?
While they may not seem to go together - Christmas and hunting - for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) and the brave men & women we serve, the idea behind both is the same: Helping Others is a Way of Life. We help the children of Sheep Dogs in need have a Merry Christmas by providing them with gifts and necessities their families are unable to give. And we help Sheep Dogs who have been wounded in combat or the line of duty go on all-expenses-paid Outdoor Adventures by collecting donations to sponsor them.
Why do we sponsor them for Outdoor Adventures? By getting them off the couch and engaged in a healthy activity - like obstacle course races, hunting, fishing, skydiving - with others who have been through similar traumatic experiences, they feel a sense of belonging and camaraderie that is non-existent in civilian life. Being able to share their struggles and emotions facilitates organic healing, and reminds them they...
SDIA Members Sending & Delivering Supplies to PR
Since their Disaster Response Mission to Puerto Rico in October, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) members from Florida have worked tirelessly with local churches and area residents to purchase and collect a truckload of supplies for those devastated by Hurricane Maria.
They have partnered with Flight of Hope, who will deliver many of these items today directly to Puerto Rican residents in need as well as other relief organizations for distribution. Included in this shipment are 250 generators, 3,000+ pounds of food & medical supplies, over 1,000 water purification systems, clothing, cleaning supplies, tarps, batteries, and hygiene products. We are incredibly proud of these members and all they are doing for our fellow citizens!
But they aren’t stopping there. Early next month, these members from Florida (and one from Kansas) will head to Puerto Rico to bring a bit of joy and happiness to the holidays. The six-person team will be in Puerto Rico from December 5-9 to deliver more needed supplies,...
HURRICANE MARIA – PUERTO RICO DRM RECAP 10.18.17
Our Disaster Response (DR) Team covered nearly the entire island of Puerto Rico during their 11-day mission October 5-16. They made an immeasurable difference in the lives of all those they helped – all while fighting the same struggles as the residents…little power, scarcity of water and food, and the weather.
The DR Team:
assisted nearly 400 residents; cleared 30+ trees from properties & roadways; distributed 450+ cases water; and distributed food, batteries, lanterns and other supplies.
The need in Puerto Rico is still great with little aid getting to those in need. The DR Team did whatever work was needed – from repairs, clearing debris, removing trees, clearing roadways & driveways; they even helped to restore a house that was destroyed by a large palm tree falling on it. A Bayamon family they assisted had been without assistance of any kind for 25 days; the mother is a widow who lost her job when the Sears she worked at was...
HURRICANE MARIA – PUERTO RICO DRM UPDATE 10.12.17
Following closely on the heels of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma was Hurricane Maria - and she devastated the island of Puerto Rico. To date over 80% of the population is still with power and most businesses are still not operational, but SDIA was able to send a small Disaster Response (DR) Team to help. Since their Oct. 3 arrival, the 5-person DR Team has assisted many residents of central Puerto Rico. From 10/3-12, the DR Team has:
Assisted 200+ people; Cleared properties of 15+ trees and debris; Repaired 2 homes; and Distributed 1,300 gallons of water, as well as food and other supplies.
If you are willing and able, we need and greatly appreciate your continued financial support. Financial donations can be made securely online at sheepdogia.org/get-involved/donate. Cash and fuel cards can be dropped off at or mailed to: SDIA National Office, 1200 W. Walnut St., Suite 2301, Rogers AR 72756. THANK YOU to everyone who has donated and/or supported SDIA...
Run the Turkey Trot & Provide Christmas Gifts for Children
Most Americans live well enough to enjoy the holidays, but for many of our nation’s Sheep Dogs - former and current Veterans & First Responders (Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, and EMS/Paramedic professionals), that is not the case. These courageous men and women put their lives on the line for us each and every day, giving us the gift of protection and security. It’s time for us to give them and their children the gift of a Merry Christmas! Your participation in (or donation to) our Turkey Trot for Heroes 5K, Wild Gobbler 5K or 1-mile Fun Run/Walk provides the funding needed for our Christmas Outreach program, which gives the children of struggling Sheep Dogs gifts to open at Christmas. On Thanksgiving morning (Thur., Nov. 23) from 9:00 to 11:00am, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) will host its 10th Annual Turkey Trot for Heroes 5K at the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers. Join in the fun and competition all while raising needed...
Texas & Florida Disaster Response Missions Recap
For ten days, SDIA had Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) deployed in Texas and Florida to assist those affected by Hurricanes Harvey & Irma. The teams worked diligently to help as many residents as possible, and it appears our work there is done. No further missions to Texas or Florida are planned at this time. Following is a final recap of the Texas and Florida missions.
TAMPA & JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - Sept. 11-14 Two DRTs made up of 15 SDIA members and volunteers from our Eastern TN Team as well as Florida & Virginia conducted chainsaw operations in New Port Richey, Tampa and Jacksonville. Teams worked hard and:
cleared 31 properties and 2 roads of debris and more than 50 trees; covered damaged roofs; distributed more than 200 cs of water and 15+ cs non-perishable food to residents and linemen working to restore power.
For more photos from the Florida DRM, visit our Facebook album.
ROCKPORT & FULTON, TEXAS - Sept....