U.S. Army Veteran Jimmy Thomas knows firsthand how beneficial a service dog has been in his life. Thankfully he was able to have access to one with ease, but this isn’t always the reality for many of his peers.
The average cost of a service dog can exceed $50,000 depending on the medical need of the veteran, with less than three percent of veterans who could benefit from having a service dog, actually having access to one. Moreover, an estimated 22 veterans commit suicide per day, and knowing how a service dog can save a veteran, Jimmy and his team of volunteers at Doggie Paddle For Veterans, are committed to this cause.
In 2019, Jimmy, working alone, decided to bicycle across the country to raise funds for veterans. The next year, he kayaked from New York to Virginia. Having completed both efforts successfully, Jimmy set his sights on a larger mission, kayaking from Glenville, NY to Key West, a roughly 4,000-mile journey.
His former high school classmate, Glenville Rotarian Beth Kissinger, talked him into joining the club and presenting his fundraising/service project idea to the group. And the rest was history, with the trip taking place in 2023 after several months of planning!
Today, Doggie Paddle For Veterans Inc is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (operating independent of Rotary). Jimmy serves as president, Beth is treasurer and fellow Glenville Rotarian Kate Toombs is secretary. They also have a legion of volunteers in the community, with friends across the country as news of Jimmy’s trips has reached an estimated 1.5 million people.
Every donation they have received goes entirely to helping our veterans. Supporters have generously donated advertising, signs, printing services, dog training services, veterinary services, insurance coverage, etc. The organization has also met with NYS & U.S. Senators to discuss further opportunities for collaboration and ways to help those who served our country.
Back at it in 2024
This summer, Jimmy will once again set off on a long kayaking journey, this time making the 2,500-mile journey down the Mississippi River. Jimmy and his team of volunteers will start in St. Cloud, MN on August 28 and are estimated to arrive in New Orleans on November 15.
The group is asking their friends across CNY Rotary and the U.S. to consider making a donation to the cause. This can be either paid hotel nights, campground sites, transportation from river to stores to restock paddler supplies, monetary donations, lodging and food provided by Rotarians along the route for the two Army Veteran paddlers, gas cards to pay for travel of the ground crew, fundraising/speaking opportunities at Rotary clubs and other organizations from Minnesota to Louisiana, boat owners who can help in the case of emergency while in the river, as well as encouragement from Rotarians and community members along the route, in addition to help contacting media to assist in setup of interviews and news coverage during trip, etc.
We applaud Jimmy and Glenville Rotary for their effort to assist veterans through this effort. Like the Rotary saying goes, they’re truly “People of Action.”
To get involved, contact doggiepaddle4veterans@gmail.com. To learn more about the initiative, visit https://doggiepaddle.org/.
