LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is finding a fun way to raise money and spread their mission to the veteran community.
They are doing it through a weekend dedicated to supporting an East Tennessee nonprofit. They are doing it all through one of the fastest growing sports in America: pickleball.
Teaming up with Tellico Village Pickleball Club, the groups are hoping to raise money so the nonprofit can train and provide another dog to somebody who needs it.
“We can raise some money for Smoky Mountain as well as get the word about who they are, what they do while they do it. The more people that come familiar with them, the more people they’re going to be able to help, so if we can help them help others, that’s what makes us happy,” club president Gary Sawicki said.
Smoky Mountain Service Dogs is an organization that gives a fully trained service dog to wounded veterans and first responders.
“To enhance the physical and psychological quality of life for veterans and first responders and we do that by providing mobility assistance service dogs to the veteran and first responders at no cost to the recipient,” the nonprofits spokesperson Mike Kitchens said.
The tournament’s sponsor, Campbell Financial Group, is run by a veteran, Russell Campbell.
He said this year’s event is one that means a lot to him.
“It could be anywhere from the PTSD to maybe missing the limb or health problems that the dogs are a great partner with,” Campbell said. “It’s just a great service and to know that it’s right here locally in our area.”
This tournament splits profits 50/50 meaning Smoky Mountain Service Dogs would get 50% of the profits from this weekend’s event.
Last year, the tournament raised over $20,000 for their nonprofit, a number that would mean a lot to Kitchens.
“$20,000 just about gets us there and with the help of others in the community then you know we’re able to provide the highly trained dog to the veteran or first responder,” Kitchens said.
These dogs are not just for help around the house, they play a big part in a veteran’s mental health.
“Well I will tell you, we do a lot of mobility training, so picking up dropped items on prosthetics, we don’t want them bending over, they fall,” Kitchens said. “What we find is when that veteran is in bed at night and he starts going into that dark place and does one of these and that’s 60-70 lb. lab gets up on with him and lays his head on his chest, the world’s a better, safer place for that veteran.”
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