Rotary Clubs provide support for Doggie Paddle For Veterans
Rotarian and US Army veteran, Jimmy Thomas, knows both the benefits and care a service dog can provide. His loyal Golden Retriever named Boots changed his life forever.
As noted on the website Doggie Paddle for Veterans, Jimmy’s mission is to raise money and awareness for veterans in need of service dogs.
This past Fall, Jimmy sets off on a one-of-a-kind journey along the East Coast Intracoastal Waterway, traveling from New York state to Key West FL., to raise attention to help our American veterans find a better tomorrow with a service dog.
In early October 2022 the Ocean City – Upper Twp. Rotary Club was able to help Jimmy along his coastal journey when he stopped over in Marmora and the All Seasons Marina.
Our Club hosted him for dinner at Dino’s Seaville Diner and an overnight stay at the home of Club President Cindy Chadwick. OCUT Rotarians Wayne and Sue Conrad followed up by hosting Jimmy when he made his way down the coast to Stone Harbor.
Jimmy has been posting little notes along the way on the Doggie Paddle Facebook page: @doggiepaddleusa.
Rotary Clubs provide support for Doggie Paddle For Veterans
Rotarian and US Army veteran, Jimmy Thomas, knows both the benefits and care a service dog can provide. His loyal Golden Retriever named Boots changed his life forever.
As noted on the website Doggie Paddle for Veterans, Jimmy’s mission is to raise money and awareness for veterans in need of service dogs.
This past Fall, Jimmy sets off on a one-of-a-kind journey along the East Coast Intracoastal Waterway, traveling from New York state to Key West FL., to raise attention to help our American veterans find a better tomorrow with a service dog.
In early October 2022 the Ocean City – Upper Twp. Rotary Club was able to help Jimmy along his coastal journey when he stopped over in Marmora and the All Seasons Marina. Our Club hosted him for dinner at Dino’s Seaville Diner and an overnight stay at the home of Club President Cindy Chadwick.
OCUT Rotarians Wayne and Sue Conrad followed up by hosting Jimmy at their home in Stone Harbor when he made his way down the South Jersey Shore coast toward the Cape May Canal and the Delaware Bay.
Jimmy has been posting little notes along the way on the Doggie Paddle Facebook page: @doggiepaddleusa. https://www.facebook.com/doggiepaddleusa
There are plenty of videos on the Doggie Paddle For Veterans YouTube Channel
According to recent emails from his support team back in New York state, Jimmy had a lovely Thanksgiving with a host who is part of the Florida Paddling Trails Association, a group of kayakers that paddle around the east and west coasts of Florida. There were pictures of a hot tub and pool that Jimmy posted to FB and up in New York, his teammates were jealous!
Jimmy and his project have been fortunate in finding very receptive Rotary Clubs to support him along the way.
Here are just few examples (see Club links below):
Little River Rotary near Myrtle Beach hosted him for a few days and he was able to make connections with an organization that works on housing veterans in a tiny house community. That Club is very interested in helping to bring a trained dog to their community for a veteran in that community.
Sea Island Rotary in Beaufort, SC was helpful in hosting Jimmy, as was the Fernandina Beach Rotary in Florida.
In Vero Beach the Sunrise Rotary and Oceanside Rotary arranged a meet and greet where he was able to connect with another veteran assistance organization, one that also provides dogs to veterans: Dogs for Life. They also arranged hosts for several of Jimmy’s stops in Florida.
Jimmy’s Team has also noted his support from many other groups as well as many marina operators that have opened up their facilities and their homes.
Jimmy’s efforts are to raise awareness and donation. He is almost halfway (*) done with his trip! Rotarians and friends are encouraged to continue to follow along on Facebook, especially as he enters into the best phase: connecting dogs with veterans. (* Jimmy plans to do his return trip back to NY state by bicycle.) ##
- Posted 04 Dec 2022