Over the years, Americans have been protected by civil servants so diligently that many rarely stop to think about who takes care of their families in turn.
So what happens when a storm damages a police officer’s home? When a firefighter’s family is in need of shelter? Or an officer’s wife is stranded without water? Sheep Dog Impact Assistance steps in. The nonprofit group organizes volunteers, experienced and not experienced, to provide aid to families and individuals in times of crisis.
When Sheep Dog Impact Assistance was formed in 2009, the group gained its momentum by using the resources of members. By 2011, most funds were still out-of-pocket expenses from the volunteers.
“Back then, it was very much self-funded … pouring personal resources in getting this thing off the ground,” said volunteer Drew Gilchrist. “For those of us who joined up early, when we went on a mission, we wrote checks for gas to go into the disaster mission and we bought our own chain saws.”
From the beginning,Gilchrist has been a force in helping funnel the energy and compassion of military veterans into providing emergency relief for the community, as well as offering assistance in transitioning back to civilian life for other veterans.
To him, being a Sheep Dog means dropping personal plans to go help whoever is in need. It means going into those damaged homes to retrieve valuable family photos and items or helping someone who might otherwise be taken advantage of.
“A lot of people are [made] very vulnerable by unscrupulous individuals, and we take our team in and say that we’re willing to do this for free,” Gilchrist said. “Especially elderly people whose homes are paid for who may not have homeowner’s insurance … we try to help them first.”
The Sheep Dog organization has growing support through its membership base and sponsorships by Propper International and the Wal-Mart Volunteerism Always Pays program. But the nonprofit covers an array of needs, many of which pop up unexpectedly, meaning the money is often gone too soon.
That means Gilchrist and other volunteers are eager for Patriot Day, which is Saturday at Pinnacle Hills Promenade in Rogers. Proceeds will go toward supplies for Thanksgiving meals and gifts for the children of those families at Christmas. Guests and their children can honor those who served in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, explore military andfirst responder vehicles, meet police officers and firefighters and enjoy music and concessions. They can also learn about the Sheep Dog organization. Membership fees go toward liability insurance, appropriate protective gear for volunteers and necessities for families in need, such as a washing machine for an elderly veteran on a fixed income.
Sheep Dog Impact Assistance often acts as a complement to other similar organizations, Gilchrist said.
When group members go on a mission they often focus on the outlying areas of the disaster scene. Volunteers primarily work on recovery and debris removal, but if they arrive within 24 hours, they often are paired up with the first responders for search and rescue as well. Over the years, the group has helped survivors of superstorm Sandy and natural disasters at Cincinnati in Washington County and in Alabama; Joplin, Mo.; and more recently, Moore, Okla., and St. Louis.
“In many cases, we know there’s a lot of resources pouring into the epicenter of a disaster,” Gilchrist said. “Soinstead of going in there and getting tied up in that big process, it’s a lot easier for us to go to the outskirts of that area or ‘follow the tornado’ into a rural area.”
In this way, the group increases the scope of assistance.
One year, the group partnered with an organization that served disabled veterans. The volunteers checked on them in their homes following a natural disaster to make sure they were not trapped under debris or otherwise stranded.
Back home, Sheep Dogs are informal mentors for veterans readjusting to civilian life.
They become the friend that a veteran can confide in about work problems, who can restore that sense of camaraderie they lost upon leaving the military, and even help with the financial burden around Christmastime.
For Gilchrist, the personal involvement with veterans is what makes the time and effort worth it. “Now, when you get involved with nonprofits and you meet the people [you’re helping] and shake their hands, well, that changes the entire experience.”
Patriot Day, which is free and open to the public, takes place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the PinnacleHills Promenade in Rogers. For more information, see sheepdogia.org or call (479) 466-9713.
Northwest Profile, Pages 35 on 09/01/2013