Though Veterans Day has come and gone, there is no finish line when it comes to showing our appreciation for the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women who comprise our nation’s armed forces. To that end, Carvana’s CarVets Community (a veteran-focused Employee Resource Group at Carvana) recently teamed up with Soldier’s Best Friend (SBF) in Phoenix to do a bit of good for veterans who have suffered as a result of their combat duty.
For those who don’t know, Soldier’s Best Friend is an organization that provides U.S. military veterans living with combat-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) with Service or Therapeutic Companion Dogs, most of which are rescued from local animal shelters. Simultaneously dedicated to making a positive impact on the issue of pet overpopulation, part of Soldier’s Best Friend’s mission is to train and pair the service dogs with a veteran in need at no cost to the veteran. Together, the veteran and the dog train as one, building a trusting relationship that aims to save two lives at once while inspiring countless others.
One such recipient of a service dog from Soldier’s Best Friend was Carvana’s own Zach Gillilan, a technical support specialist for our Service Desk team. A combat veteran who returned home coping with PTSD, Zach found himself deeply struggling with the adjustment to civilian life.
“I went to the VA one day, and I was at a really, really dark spot in my life,” said Zach.
“One of my doctors mentioned Soldier’s Best Friend, and I’m like, ‘What is this?’ He talked me into it. He said, ‘Go down there, talk to them, see what happens.’ So I did, and that was the day I met Mr. Gibbs.”
“I could tell that, for some reason, he had a connection with me right away,” Zach continued. “So we went on our journey of starting to train together over the next year. I started to care about where I was, what I was doing, having to go home to be there for him. That helped me blossom into who I was again and caring about life, and that’s why I love him so much.”
Zach’s uplifting story is one of many according to Katie Ares, executive director at Soldier’s Best Friend, who describes the pairing as one that is truly transformative for both the veteran in need and the rescued dog.
“After graduation, we’ve had family members and friends just talk about how the person they knew previously, before these horrible experiences, has returned,” said Katie.
To show our support for the incredible work being carried out on a daily basis by Soldier’s Best Friend, Carvana donated a 2017 Ford Transit to the organization during their 10th anniversary golf tournament to help them with their transportation needs. Additionally, in conjunction with our CarVets program, Carvana donated a van full of much needed goods to Soldier’s Best Friend, which included dog food, doggie beds, and other essential supplies.
“The 10th anniversary golf tournament was a wonderful time where we have a great day of golf in support of Soldier’s Best Friend, so we couldn’t think of a better time to highlight this generous donation and this generous gift,” said Katie.
“This is a really fantastic thing that Carvana and CarVets brought to us. Organizations like Soldier’s Best Friend are here, and we want to be able to continue to serve our veteran community who has so graciously served us.”
For individuals who would like donate money or items that will go directly to Soldier’s Best Friend, please visit SBF’s Amazon wishlist for more information on how you can help!
