By Kelly Kim Miller
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.– A local organization that specializes in humanitarian assistance went to work for its own community after two tornados tore through Benton County. Multiple neighbors who lived on South 44th Street in Rogers, woke up to trees uprooted and scattered across their yards.
One neighbor declined to give his name, but consented to commenting on camera. He said, he tried to clean up his yard at first until he took a break to step out for lunch. When he came back, Sheepdog Impact Assistance had a chainsaw running and dismembering the big oak lying in his yard. The man with the chainsaw was named Michael Nimmo. He identified himself as a Sheepdog Ambassador and a veteran.
“I’ve worked for Sheepdog for three and a half years, volunteered for the first two years that I was with the organization. It changed my life in a big way,” Nimmo said.
While Sheepdog Impact Assistance primarily focuses on disaster relief, it also aims to heal its own members, primarily veterans and first responders.
“That’s what we call, ‘get off the couch.’ Helping is healing. Do something,” said Nimmo.
The organization aims to assist veterans and first responders with adjusting to civilian lifestyles by giving them purpose. Nimmo said that the suicide rates in the veteran population is a major concern and the organization helps with that.
Since its founding in 2010, the nonprofit has grown to have chapters stationed across the country. Its base still remains in Rogers, where it started.
Shortly after Sheepdog Impact Assistance cleaned up 44th Street, a Benton County judge signed an Emergency Disaster Declaration for the area. Emergency officials say that they are still surveying the damage so they can apply for assistance from FEMA.
In the meantime, the Sheepdogs remain in the area to assist.