SDIA’s DRM to South Texas 8/20-9/4/17
As SDIA Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) work to assist those affected by Hurricane Irma in Florida, DRTs will also redeploy on Thur., Sept. 14, to Rockport, Texas, to continue with muck-out operations in that area.
While we await news of their hard work, here is a recap of – and a few stories from – the recent Disaster Response Mission (DRM) to Texas.
The first DRT departed from Northwest Arkansas the evening of 8/29, stopping at Bethel Ranch in Texas to rest for the night - THANK YOU for your generosity and hospitality, Bethel Ranch! The next morning the DRT continued to Houston. On the way, they stopped to visit Non-Profit Partner, Carry The Load (CTL), in Dallas. CTL blessed SDIA with a $20,000 contribution toward assistance efforts, and 3 truckloads of supplies the next day. Thank you, Carry The Load!
After arriving in Spring, TX, the DRT set up their Command Center, and once they began...
SDIA Hurricane Harvey DRM Update 9.3.17
Over 130 SDIA Members, Volunteers and 1st Battalion, 23rd Regiment Marines have been working long, hard days in 90+ degree heat helping the people of Texas begin recovering from Hurricane Harvey's devastation. Yesterday alone, the DRTs worked in 7 different areas to:
Deliver water, food & medical supplies to residents and aid stations;
Boat assist 7 families in Beaumont and Memorial to retrieve medications and IDs/needed documents;
Muck-out 14 homes; and
Chainsaw 13 properites clear of trees & debris.
Today - the last day of this deployment, 130 SDIA members, volunteers and Marines will be mucking out 14 homes in Spring, Texas. Most homes in the area had water up to the ceiling on the first level, which requires removal of all flooring, sheetrock and insulation. One of many moving moments during this mission happened after the teams finished their work yesterday. One group had mucked out a Marine Vietnam Veteran's home the day before; in a closet the team...
SDIA Hurricane Harvey DRM Update 9.1.17
Over the past 72 hours, much work has been done by your SDIA Disaster Response Teams (DRTs) and volunteers from the 1st Battalion, 23rd Regiment Marines - all 130+ of them!
800lbs of food & medical supplies, and 300cs water were distributed.
7 boat crews rescued and/or assisted more than 170 Houston residents.
5 chainsaw teams cleared trees & debris from 9 homes in and around Rockport.
13 homes were mucked-out in northwest Houston.
Today, more than 70 SDIA members, volunteers and 1/23 Marines will be hard at work.
Boat crews were dispatched to Houston & Beaumont. Muck-out teams will clear homes in Northwest Houston and the Rockport areas. Non-perishable food, medical supplies, and bottled water will be distributed by all DRTs.
At this time, SDIA will not be deploying additional DRTs to Texas. When fuel and other issues are rectified in the next week or two, SDIA plans to deploy DRTs again to continue muck out, chainsaw, and food/water distributiion operations. Watch...
SDIA Teams in Texas to Assist in Recovery
On Tues., 8/29, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) deployed Disaster Response Team 1 (DRT1) to the Houston area to assist with Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. 20+ SDIA Members and Volunteers are on site; they were joined yesterday by a large contigency of 1st Battlion 23rd Regiment Marines that are stationed or live in the area.
DRT1 received their orders this morning and are on the move to help as many Texans as possible. 5 boat crews will assist with rescue operations in the Houston area. 5 chainsaw teams will clear trees & debris and cover roofs & windows in Rockport, which sustained significant wind/storm damage, but little flood damage. Remaining DRT1 members will conduct muck-out operations in Northwest Houston where waters have begun to recede.
DRT2 will arrive tomorrow (9/1) with additional SDIA Members and Volunteers to assist in our recovery operations. By Friday, more than 60 SDIA members and volunteers will have deployed from our Central Arkansas,
2017 Spring Outdoor Adventures – Part 2
Our Outdoor Adventure program is in full swing this spring! Recently you read the story on our Hog Hunt and Quail Hunt; now we'll tell you about our fishing and muddy adventures. These experiences present our sponsored Sheep Dogs - those injured in combat or the line of duty - with challenges that test their rehabilitation progress, restore independence and self-confidence, and foster camaraderie and peer support - two things that are vital to inspiring a positive state of mind and perspective. 2017 Spring White River Fishing Outdoor Adventure - The weekend of April 24-26, SDIA held their second annual White River Fishing Outdoor Adventure at Newland's Float Trips, Lodge & Conference Center in Lakeview, AR. Sponsors Broadway Contracting and United Rental went out of their way to make this trip a memorable experience for our three sponsored combat-wounded Army veterans: SSGT Ryan Waddell, SSGT Steve Charles, and SSGT Forrest Montgomery. A weekend of fishing, grilling, and camaraderie was...
SDIA Carries The Load in East Coast Relay
A few months ago, SDIA announced that they were named a 2017 nonprofit partner of Carry The Load (CTL), a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the true meaning of Memorial Day and providing active, meaningful ways to honor and celebrate the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes throughout the year. Sheep Dogs who have given the ultimate sacrifice are honored and remembered – their load carried – at CTL events. One of CTL’s largest events is the National Relay, which has teams of people raising money and walking, running or bicycling 5+-mile legs of the over 6,200-mile routes throughout the month of May. The routes begin on the East and West Coasts, and meet in Dallas, TX, on Memorial Day weekend for the Memorial March. CTL’s founder carried one pound of weight for each of the people he carried on that first Memorial Day walk; now participants are encouraged to carry weighted backpacks with the names of those they are carrying...
2017 Spring Outdoor Adventures
This spring has been a busy one for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA), hosting four different Outdoor Adventures in three states, all within three months. This week's story will feature our annual Hog Hunt and Quail Hunt; watch next week for a story on our first Fishing Trip and our St. Louis Chapter's Muddy Adventure. Our Outdoor Adventure program came to be as we waited for disasters to which our disaster response teams could deploy and satisfy their innate desire to serve and help those around them. We needed a continued service opportunity that would keep our Sheep Dogs engaged, physically challenged and foster camaraderie. An obstacle course race fit the bill. SDIA has since expanded the adventures to include other outdoor activities like hunting & fishing trips, skydiving, scuba diving and more. For our sponsored Sheep Dogs (those injured in combat or the line of duty), these adventures present them with challenges that test their rehabilitation progress, restore independence and self-confidence,...
SDIA’s Charity Ball Raises $40,000 to Send Veterans, First Responders to DC
On Saturday, April 22, we held our 5th Annual Charity Ball at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa in Rogers. More than 425 people attended and helped us raise over $40,000, which will be used to sponsor Sheep Dogs injured in combat or the line of duty to go on Outdoor Adventures; this October, 20 Sheep Dogs will be sponsored on an epic trip to Washington DC. The Charity Ball’s Host Sponsor was Bennett Packaging, along with Presenting Sponsors Broadway Contracting, JUNK Brands, Walmart, White Lynx Creative, and Zantac. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner with musical entertainment provided by local artist, Cameron Johnson Music, and participated in the silent auction & live auction (sponsored by Bailey & Oliver's Live Auction Team), as well as the Heads or Tails game (sponsored by Gall Excavation).
Sheep Dog of the Year Awards were presented to William Tremaine, Jr, of Ward, Arkansas (EMS), Chief Dennis Ledbetter...
SDIA Chosen as 2017 Partner of Carry The Load
As a national non-profit that exists to engage, assist and empower our nation’s “Sheep Dogs” – those who make up our military and first responder professions – Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to announce their selection as a 2017 partner of fellow non-profit, Carry The Load (CTL). This partnership will provide much-needed funding to sponsor Sheep Dogs injured in combat or the line of duty to go on SDIA’s Outdoor Adventure to Washington DC and take part in the Marine Corps Marathon in October 2017. “We are thrilled to be selected as a partner of CTL,” said SgtMaj Lance Nutt, SDIA’s president and founder. “Our missions to engage and assist our nation’s Sheep Dogs fit perfectly within CTL’s “Continuum of Care” program to provide funding to those who directly serve our nation’s heroes and their families. We are extremely excited to sponsor as many Sheep Dogs as possible on our Washington DC Outdoor Adventure with CTL’s help.” More than...
SDIA’s 5th Annual Charity Ball is on Sat., April 22, 2017
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (SDIA) is honored to announce that our 5th Annual Charity Ball will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2017, from 5:00-11:00PM at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa in Rogers, with guest speaker, USMC Cpl Aaron Mankin (Ret.). Held each year, the Charity Ball is a formal fundraising event that includes dinner, silent auction, dancing, and an awards ceremony which recognizes our nation’s Sheep Dogs – those in Military, Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, and EMS professions – who have lived out the SDIA motto, “Helping Others is a Way of Life.” Funds raised will be used to sponsor Sheep Dogs injured in combat or the line of duty to go on an Outdoor Adventure to Washington DC and participate in the Marine Corps Marathon in October.
Guest speaker, Cpl Mankin, is a well-known inspirational speaker within military circles, and will share his story at the Charity Ball. Cpl Mankin graduated with honors from...