Set in the Ozark Mountains of Southwest Missouri is a refuge for men and women who have stepped up to serve others but now need to prioritize themselves.
The aptly named Heroes Ranch is run by Sheep Dog Impact Assistance, a nonprofit helping active and retired service members and first responders heal from trauma suffered in the line of duty. The organization’s name refers to the protective nature of sheepdogs, which are representative of how service members and first responders look after people.
The bucolic setting is peaceful, with livestock grazing in the pastures. But Heroes Ranch is not a resort. When guests aren’t off-roading or practicing archery, they may be taking courses on how to shift their perspective of past trauma or opening up to classmates.
Keeping everything running and everyone fed can be a Herculean task, especially for the ranch’s only full-time employee, operations manager Christina LePage. Often working 13-hour days, she manages a varied to-do list that spans organizing volunteers, caring for the grounds and cooking for more than 50 staffers and overnight guests each month.
Like many small organizations, Sheep Dog Impact Assistance relies on business partnerships to carry out its mission. And Walmart, with its headquarters in nearby Bentonville, Arkansas, has been there for the organization, helping it fund a training facility that opened last year. More recently, Sheep Dog became an early adopter of Walmart Business, an e-commerce platform that makes stocking up easier for nonprofits and small businesses.
By Tom Barkley And Nick Clunn | Art Direction & Design By Meghan Donovan | Photography By Bax+Towner
Walmart Business has been a boon for LePage, saving her more than 100 hours a year, or more than four entire days, on shopping trips. LePage uses the time to keep pace with an organization that wants to help more heroes and expand offerings on the 50-acre ranch.
Ashley Hubka, senior vice president and general manager of Walmart Business, said nonprofits have accounted for a significant percentage of early adopters. Serving communities is core to Walmart’s mission, she said, and the goal of Walmart Business is to make a lasting impact.
We believe in using our platform to help nonprofit organizations—like Sheep Dog Impact Assistance—save time, money and hassle.”
ASHLEY HUBKA
senior vice president & general manager, Walmart Business
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