Arkansas-based nonprofit still helping with Helene cleanup preparing to help with Milton impact

TAMPA, Fla. – A northwest Arkansas-based nonprofit is gearing up to help those who will be impacted by the incoming Hurricane Milton.

Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, a team of more than 50 veterans and first responders, began its mission to Florida following Hurricane Helene and is now gearing up to help with Hurricane Milton.

“A lot of these people have lost everything, and you know one of the things that we can provide is hope,” John Parker with Sheep Dog Impact Assistance said.

“When we signed our name on the dotted line, it was to protect and serve for our entire life, and we are in a different uniform now, but we still feel the same way,” Parker said.

With boots on the ground, Parker and the Sheep Dog team are working to remove debris, repair homes, deliver necessities like food & water and be a shoulder to lean on.

They are also working with local law enforcement to reach areas that have not yet been helped.

“You’ve gone in, and you’ve helped somebody, and you’ve left with this feeling of satisfaction,” Parker said. “Seeing the storm coming really tears at us.”

Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida, but impacted even more, creating flooding from Tennessee to North Carolina.

Milton is expected to make landfall late Wednesday night to potentially early Thursday morning in the Tampa area.

The team is gearing back up as they await Milton’s landfall to begin disaster recovery again.

“We are good Americans, we are veterans and first responders, and we are just eager to serve, and they are so appreciative of that,” Parker said.

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