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,...
SDIA Receives Lakefront Property for Future Military & First Responder Retreats
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is excited to announce that they have been gifted a substantial parcel of land on Beaver Lake by Jeff Engleman and his family. The property will be used as a retreat for Sheep Dogs in need. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Monday, October 30, at 11:00 a.m., with board members, staff, members and volunteers in attendance, as well as local news station KNWA. You can view their news coverage here.
“We are thrilled to have this opportunity to enhance our National Outdoor Adventure program,” said SDIA founder and president, SgtMaj Lance Nutt. “Our sponsored Sheep Dogs – military and/or first responders injured in combat or the line of duty – have been through and endured so much to protect us and our freedoms. We hope that giving them the opportunity to relax in a quiet, serene setting with the option to hike or participate in various water activities will further encourage them to reengage in...
2017 National Outdoor Adventure: DC & Marine Corps Marathon
Last weekend (Oct. 19-23) SDIA descended upon Washington DC with more than 60 Sheep Dogs, SDIA members and family members converging in our nation’s epicenter for an incredible Outdoor Adventure to experience our nation’s history and beauty, and to run in the Marine Corps Marathon or 10K.
The weather was gorgeous all weekend, providing the perfect backdrop for all the tours, activities and the MCM in which the group participated! Jim Mulvihill Tours, guide Jace, and bus drivers Sam & Darwin, were phenomenal at navigating to the various landmarks, monuments and memorials that the DC and Arlington areas have to offer.
The group’s first tour was on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Pentagon Memorial, a truly beautiful and moving tribute to the 184 lives lost on 9/11, followed by a leisurely walk around the US Capitol and the Supreme Court building.
On Friday, the group spent the morning at the incomparable National Museum of the Marine...
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....
DRM Update: Hurricanes Harvey & Irma
Over the past two weeks, SDIA has deployed Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) to assist those affected by Hurricanes Harvey & Irma. ROCKPORT & FULTON, TEXAS The DRT left Northwest AR on Thur., Sept. 14, and was followed on Sept. 16 by a team from Gunter & Smith Professional Cleaning Services (GSPCS) with heavy equipment, and two 26' trucks of supplies from GSPCS and Gary Eckel. Crews were able to set up their Command Center and had a secure area to stage equipment on Decker Womack's property.
From 9/14-19, the DRTs:
Cleared 15 properties of debris and large oak trees, where the two skid loaders with grapples proved invaluable; Distributed 1,200 cs of water; and Distributed clothing, hygiene supplies, diapers, cleaning and other supplies.
As Rockport's systems were restored, the DRT moved north to Fulton, which was practically destroyed by Harvey. DRTs finished up their work orders and began their return home 9/20.
TAMPA & JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA Two DRTs made up of 15 SDIA members and volunteers conducted...