SDIA & FLEOA Join Forces to Strengthen Assistance to Officers
As a nonprofit organization founded to give back to our nation’s “Sheep Dogs” – the men and women who bravely make up the ranks of our military and first responder professions – Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to announce a new partnership with the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). “It is a natural alliance,” said SDIA’s founder and President, SgtMaj Lance Nutt. “Our mission is to provide assistance to all those who have served or are currently serving our country and communities to keep us safe on a daily basis.” That includes military personnel as well as first responders – law enforcement, fire & rescue, and EMS. “We couldn’t think of a better way to align ourselves with the federal law enforcement community than to partner with FLEOA,” he added. Nathan Catura, FLEOA’s National Executive Vice President, agrees. “Our members look to us to provide them with assistance with legal matters,” he said. “It seems fitting to join...
SDIA Spring 2015 Hunt
Another great bi-annual Sheep Dog Hunt is in the books! Hunting at Turkey Ranch in NW Texas never disappoints, and our hosts (Broadway Contracting and ProTrucks of Siloam Springs, Arkansas) always deliver one of the best experiences around. But for our sponsored combat wounded vets and first responders injured in the line of duty, it's more than just a hunt for wild boar and other critters. Participating in the hunt allows them the opportunity to relax and be themselves around others who have survived similar experiences, and that’s hard to find for most of them. Whether hunting, target shooting, or another unique adventure, the chance to bond with fellow Sheep Dogs and supporters is priceless. During this hunt, we honored the service and sacrifice of SSG Zach Pryor (US Army), CPL Sebastian Gallegos (USMC), SGT Matthew Melancon (US Army), and MAJ Drew Gilchrist (USMC). Their dedication and commitment to our nation is to be commended, and the blood, sweat, and limbs...
SDIA Deploys Disaster Response Team to Northern Illinois
Tornado season is upon us, and for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) that means being ready to hit the road with chainsaws, tarps and able bodies to assist communities in need at a moment’s notice. On Friday, April 10, at 4:00PM, that’s exactly what happened. SDIA deployed a team of six Northwest Arkansas members and volunteers who headed north to Illinois to help the community of Kirkland, one of a few areas ravaged by tornadoes. Once in northern Illinois, the NWA team met up with other SDIA members from Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri and Tennessee and went to find people to help. Following the path of the tornado, the team saw areas that were virtually untouched – like a mobile home park in Rochelle – as well as areas with larger homes that were completely destroyed. Finding the Kirkland neighborhood gave the SDIA team the opportunity to assist residents by clearing downed trees, covering leaking windows and roofs, and talking with its...
SDIA Presents PTSD Service Dog to Bentonville Veteran, Dan Moss
Since returning home after serving 24 years and three combat tours in the U.S. Army, veteran Dan Moss has struggled in his transition to civilian life. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, has had a dramatic negative impact on his day-to-day life. But that is beginning to change. In the ten days since Moss was presented with Justice, a rescued 1-1/2 year old German shepherd trained as a PTSD Service Dog, improvements have occurred at a regular rate. Moss’s wife, Judy, noticed that after only a few days with Justice, her husband showed fewer signs of hyper vigilance at the presentation ceremony. “Dan was able to stand almost the entire ceremony with his back to the door,” she said. “That NEVER happens.” Moss has noticed other ways Justice is helping him. “It hasn’t been without some stress [adjusting to each other],” he explained. “That in itself helps because it gives me a single focal point, so I’m not constantly surveying the environment –...
SDIA’s First Upland Game Bird Hunt
The weekend of March 27-29, 2015, boasted beautiful weather and excellent hunting conditions, and Bethel Ranch in north Texas provided the perfect location for a successful Upland Game Bird Hunt for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) and sponsored participants Officer JR Boggs, Cpl. Cody Jones and Cpl. Sebastian Gallegos. JR Boggs, a police officer for Pasadena ISD in Texas, was a first responder sponsored to participate in the hunt. “It was an amazing experience,” he said. “Knowing that others – who I hadn’t even met yet – cared about me enough to give me a weekend away…it was astonishing.” Boggs was already looking forward to the hunt, but after responding to an early morning, horrific accident earlier that week, the timing could not have been any better. “The call came in at 7:15am,” he said. “15 minutes before my shift, while I was dropping off my 4-year-old son and almost 5-year-old daughter at preschool.” Boggs...
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!