Thanksgiving Outreach & Turkey Trot for Heroes Help Over 600
We at Sheep Dog Impact Assistance hope that you had a blessed Thanksgiving! The days leading up to Thanksgiving were busy ones for us, and that's just how we like it! Through the generosity of many people with a giving heart, we are humbled to share that we fed more than 50 veteran and first responder families in need this Thanksgiving. That means more than 350 Sheep Dogs and their family members enjoyed a free traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey, ham, sides and pie. We also dropped off food at 30+ fire departments and police stations.
Thanksgiving morning brought gorgeous weather for our 9th annual Turkey Trot for Heroes 5K at the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers, Arkansas. Nearly 700 runners, walkers and Wild Gobblers participated in this year's Turkey Trot, which helped us raise more than $12,000! These funds will be used to provide gifts to the approximately 300 children of Sheep Dogs in need through our Christmas Outreach efforts. More photos...
Run in the NWA Turkey Trot 5K & Provide Christmas Gifts for Children
Most children cannot wait for Christmas morning to arrive. Seeing the gifts under the Christmas tree, opening them and playing with desired toys and games is what childhood dreams are made of. But for hundreds of children of military and first responder families in Northwest Arkansas and across the United States, there won't be gifts to be opened. You can help change that! On Thanksgiving morning (Thur., Nov. 24) from 9:00 to 11:00am, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) will host its 9th Annual Turkey Trot 5K at the Center for Nonprofits in Rogers. Your participation in (or donation to) the NWA Turkey Trot provides the funding needed for our Christmas Outreach program, which gives the children of struggling Sheep Dogs gifts of toys, clothing, and necessities to open at Christmas. “As this event grows and raises more funds, we are able to help more and more children of Sheep Dog families have a merry Christmas,” said SgtMaj...
Patriot Day 2016 Events Recap
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) and a few of its Chapters recently held Patriot Day events to honor the lives lost and those injured in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and provide an opportunity to show appreciation for the service and sacrifice of all our nation’s Sheep Dogs. This year marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. While events were free to attend, donations received will be used to provide Sheep Dogs in need with Thanksgiving meals and Christmas gifts for their children. SDIA's Northwest Arkansas Chapter, Arkansas River Valley Team and Central Arkansas Chapter joined together for a special day honoring the fallen at this year's 6th Annual SDIA Patriot Day event, held in Little Rock Arkansas at War Memorial Stadium. This year is also the 100th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Reserves, which were commemorated with a special Centennial Celebration at the event. A proclamation from Little Rock...
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’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...
Don’t Miss SDIA’s 5th Annual Patriot Day Event on Sat., Sept. 12, 2015
We all see children watch with excitement and fascination when emergency vehicles race by, sirens blaring and lights flashing. To them, First Responders and Military are larger than life and true heroes. Imagine how excited they would be to sit in a First Responder vehicle, put on some Military gear and learn first-hand what their heroes do on a regular basis. Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to give them this opportunity at their 5th Annual Patriot Day event on Sat., Sept. 12, 2015, from 9:00AM to 4:30PM at the Bentonville Municipal Airport. Proceeds from the event will provide funding for SDIA’s Thanksgiving Outreach program, which provides a full Thanksgiving dinner to identified Sheep Dog in Need families.
The Northwest Arkansas 2015 Patriot Day event is free to the public – thanks to Sponsors like Walmart, Propper, Zantac, Heritage Indian Motorcycles of NWA and Tyson – and will be a fun, educational day for...