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...
SDIA Combat Wounded Member’s Social Media Videos Getting Attention
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is excited to share that one of our Combat Wounded Veteran Members, Jose Luis Sanchez, was featured on CrossFit HQ’s Facebook* and Instagram* page on Wednesday! Sanchez's Facebook and Instagram posts showing his training, perseverance and hard core resolve at Warrior Fitness Center caught their attention. In October 2011, SSgt Jose Luis Sanchez had no idea how drastically his life was about to change. While conducting a foot patrol in Afghanistan, Sanchez stepped on an IED, resulting in the amputation of his left leg below the knee, and an extremely damaged, but salvageable, right leg. For the next four years, Sanchez would struggle daily to accept the man he had become. He hid from the world – physically and emotionally – because he feared how others would see him…his injuries. Yet he vigorously pushed himself in physical therapy so he would walk again. Then he began CrossFit, and physically pushed himself further than he...
SDIA Assists Communities in Texas and NW Arkansas
During the week of December 28, 2015, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) deployed four Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) to the Rowlett, Texas, area to assist with recovery efforts for those affected by tornadoes that struck the region two days prior. Thanks to the support of our generous donors and sponsors, SDIA deployed disaster response teams to north Texas, as well as flood relief teams to NW Arkansas and SW Missouri communities. Fourteen SDIA members and volunteers from Arkansas, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas converged on the north Texas town of Rowlett, and provided chainsaw operations, debris removal and covered leaky roofs and windows on 34 homes. To see more pictures of the Rowlett DRM, visit our Facebook Album. We owe a special thank you to Larry "LG" Norrell and the crew of Bethel Ranch for allowing our teams to stay at Bethel Ranch. We could not have eaten or slept better if we had been in our own homes.
Christmas Outreach
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Christmas Outreach is our annual program to adopt the children of any military, law enforcement, fire & rescue or EMS family that needs assistance during the holiday season. Our goal this year is to build on previous years’ successes by providing 70 children with Christmas toys and clothing.
Our greatest need is identifying Sheep Dog families with children that need our assistance. If you know of a worthy Sheep Dog family, please contact us as soon as possible. Each child adopted will receive three toys from their “Santa wish list”, clothing, shoes and other miscellaneous items to brighten the child’s Christmas!
Thanksgiving Outreach
Project Giving is our annual Thanksgiving program to provide meals to military, law enforcement, fire & rescue or EMS families needing assistance during the holiday season. Our goal this year is to increase the number of families we can support, providing 45 families with a traditional family Thanksgiving meal.
Our greatest challenge is identifying Sheep Dog families that need our assistance. If you know of a worthy Sheep Dog family, please contact us as soon as possible. Families will receive a whole Turkey, Ham and all the trimmings, including 2 pies, corn, green beans, stuffing, potatoes, and much more!