What many people may not know about our vice-president, Sarah Barat, is that she is not only a student pilot currently training for her IFR test, but she is also preparing for her FAA Part 107 certification—the license required for professional drone operations.

This certification is far more than a box to check. It opens a new dimension for Grounded Boots Relief. Up until now, our drone work has been limited to lightweight models under 150 grams, the kind allowed for non-licensed operators. Those drones have their uses, but they also come with major restrictions. No payloads, no advanced mapping, and no ability to integrate vital tools like speakers or microphones. In other words, helpful for practice, but limited when the stakes are high.

With a Part 107 license, the sky quite literally opens up. We can deploy drones equipped for mapping disaster zones in real time, creating accurate visual overlays for emergency managers and local officials. We can use drones to scout washed-out roads, identify isolated homes, or locate stranded individuals without sending people into hazardous terrain first. In theory, we could even deliver lightweight medical supplies to residents cut off by floodwaters or landslides.

The possibilities are vast, but they hinge on certification and the training to use it responsibly. That’s why Sarah’s pursuit of her Part 107 license matters so much. She is carrying the weight of building this capacity for Grounded Boots Relief, so when the next storm cuts off communication or access, we’ll have eyes in the sky ready to provide critical intel.

Drones won’t replace boots on the ground. They amplify them. They allow us to be faster, safer, and smarter in how we respond. With Sarah’s dedication, this new capability will soon be a core part of how we serve communities in crisis.

Up until this past week, Grounded Boots Relief relied on my personal cell phone for all calls. It worked for a while, but it was not a sustainable approach. We now have an official phone line dedicated to the mission: 828.819.1444. This marks another important step in building reliable infrastructure. When a disaster strikes, clear communication matters. Now, when people reach out, they will be calling Grounded Boots Relief directly.

This week, we welcomed a new teammate with wheels: a pre-owned Kawasaki Teryx. Thanks to the generosity of its previous owners, we were able to bring it into service at a price that made sense for a nonprofit.

The Teryx represents a significant leap in capability. It allows us to continue working in places where ordinary vehicles fail. Floods, landslides, downed trees, and broken bridges cut communities off from the outside world. With this side-by-side, we can haul supplies, scout remote areas, and move gear directly to people who need it most.

This machine also carries a story. It served its previous family well, and now it will serve entire communities. Every tool we bring into Grounded Boots Relief has a history, and when it joins our mission, that history continues with new purpose.

Every vehicle deserves a name, and this one will too. We will be gathering ideas, and we invite your suggestions. This machine is no longer just a utility vehicle. It has become part of the collective work we are all building together.

We look forward to getting this ride muddy, testing its limits, and learning what backroads and hidden corners it will open for us in the field. One more tool means one more way to keep our promise: when the call comes in, we will be ready.

The very first Labor Day parade
was held in New York City on September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union before the holiday was recognized by any state or the federal government. By 1894, 23 states had adopted Labor Day, and that June, President Grover Cleveland signed it into law as a national holiday honoring American workers.
Source: DOL.gov

I am beyond ecstatic that Grounded Boots Relief now has its first side-by-side. The Kawasaki Teryx came to us because its previous owners voluntarily, though reluctantly, decided to put it up for sale. It had been part of their family, and it showed. We were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to make sure this machine’s story continues with a new purpose. Now, instead of weekend rides, it will haul supplies, reach cut-off communities, and help us push through when the roads give up.

When we first dreamed up this organization, I said there were three things we had to secure: communications that still work when the towers are down, aerial imagery to understand what we’re walking into, and usable maps so we’re not wandering around like tourists without cell service. After months of scraping, hustling, and occasionally muttering at equipment that didn’t cooperate, we now have all three. Satellite internet, a map printer, and drones that will soon expand their role. That’s the kind of progress that makes me feel like I just found free Wi-Fi with full bars in the middle of nowhere.

This week’s Gazette may look like it’s about “stuff,” but every tool we’re adding has one goal: to make us more effective when boots hit the ground. Wheels, maps, satellites, and aerial views all feed back into the same mission. They help us get to people faster, safer, and with better information to share.

To everyone who has stood with us, donating, volunteering, or just cheering us on, I thank you. Every step forward belongs to all of us.