Ride to the Rescue: Fund our Search and Rescue UTV

What is MinnSARDA?

Minnesota Search and Rescue Dog Association (MinnSARDA) is a group of specially trained dog/handler teams trained to assist law enforcement in locating missing people. Established in 1981 as a 501(c)3 organization, MinnSARDA is Minnesota's oldest canine search and rescue unit. Our services are free for requesting agencies. We primarily serve the state of Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro area, but occasionally work in other states.

Who am I?

My name is Justin Gehrman. I'm a junior in high school, and I've been volunteering with MinnSARDA since 2021. In 2020, one of my dogs went missing. He was 15, nearly blind, and nearly deaf. Fortunately, a search and rescue team came out from Nebraska to help look for him, and 16 days later he was safely returned to my family. At that moment, I was inspired by their dedication to helping their community and wanted to do the same with MinnSARDA. Now, every weekend I go out and pretend to be missing, helping train the dogs to locate missing people.   

Having seen the dedication, hard work, and effort it takes to do work like this, helping volunteer in this way is something meaningful I can do to contribute without having a search dog of my own.

What I'm fundraising for:

I'm hoping to raise $35,000 to help purchase a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) for our local search and rescue team. This vehicle would provide valuable transportation across rough terrain and allow volunteers to carry equipment into areas that are difficult to access. Any excess funds over $35,000 would go towards training costs, annual certifications, and more equipment for MinnSARDA.

Why a UTV is important:

When someone goes missing, time is of the essence. Every search presents its own challenges, and search teams often have to cover large areas of difficult and sometimes inaccessible terrain. Having the right equipment can make a significant difference in how effectively a search is conducted. A UTV would give our team the ability to access remote areas and navigate rough terrain such as dense woods, trails, and fields otherwise inaccessible to vehicles like cars. 

With the UTV being able to access more difficult areas, it could not only be used for covering ground but also for transporting both the dogs and supplies. Transporting the dogs is especially important, as if we can place dogs directly in search areas as opposed to them having to walk through rough terrain, they can save more of their energy to dedicate to the search. The UTV can also help transport things like water and first aid supplies not only for the dogs and their handlers, but also for any missing people. Behind every search is a person, a family, and a community hoping for someone to come home safely. Our search and rescue volunteers dedicate their time, training, and energy to helping those people. They deserve the equipment and resources necessary to carry out that mission.

Every donation, no matter how big or small, makes a difference. Whether you can contribute $5, $20, or more, every dollar brings us one step closer to getting this UTV for our search and rescue team.  If you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser with friends, family, and others in the community is just as appreciated. Any amount of support means something, and we are grateful for everyone who helps make this possible.