From left, Mike Kitchens, chairman, Smoky Mountain Service Dogs; Kerrianna Neilson, clinic director for BenchMark Physical Therapy’s Oak Ridge clinic; Hemal Patel, regional vice president, Upstream Rehabilitation. Image submitted

LOUDON, TN – Mike Kitchens, a Vietnam-era Army veteran, and his wife, Suzy, had previously volunteered with an organization that provided service dogs for autistic children.

In 2010, seeing so many U.S. service members suffering combat casualties, Kitchens recognized “a great need” for mobility assistance service dogs for wounded warriors. That year, in their Loudon living room, the Kitchens launched Smoky Mountain Service Dogs. More than a decade later, the nonprofit organization has placed 48 service dogs with veterans and continues to earn community support.

On Nov. 2, Smoky Mountain received a $21,500 grant from the charitable arm of Upstream Rehabilitation, which operates outpatient physical therapy clinics in the greater Knoxville area under the BenchMark Physical Therapy and Drayer Physical Therapy Institute brands.

The grant, made through Upstream’s Pillars With Purpose Benevolent Funds, will cover the cost to train one service dog. Kitchens said the dog should be fully trained – encompassing 1,500 to 1,800 hours – within the next year.

Linnie Law is chairman of the Pillars With Purpose Military Personnel and Family Care Fund. “This has been a goal of our organization for many years,” she said, “and we look forward to watching the journey of this dog from training to the presentation to the veteran. It is our privilege to connect this way to someone who has served to protect our freedom.”

What’s more, BenchMark and Drayer employees plan to volunteer their time with Smoky Mountain. Since its inception in 2018, Upstream’s Pillars with Purpose has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to nonprofits across the United States.

Kitchens noted that his organization has no administrative staff, relying on 190 community volunteers. Only its trainers are compensated.

Knowing that Upstream believes in the mission of Smoky Mountain Service Dogs and that veterans are provided with service dogs, Kitchens said, “that’s how those of us who volunteer our time get paid.”