Biotech Values

[apljack]

OT: Small local charities

I am on the board of the Almost Home Ranch in Lincoln, AR. This small operation is a relatively new non-profit that serves active military and veterans in the following manner through the Warrior's Horse Project:

The ranch takes in and boards horses for active military personnel who have been called to duty overseas. These are often non-com's who have horses because of the love for the animals and make economic sacrifices to have the horse to begin with. These warriors do not have the money to board their horses while overseas and without the program would have to face the prospect of selling their horse.

While the horses are at the Almost Home Ranch, they are cared for by Vets with PTSD. The ranch is run by the retired Executive Director of the AR Crisis Ctr, Shelby Rowe, who is well versed in horses, PTSD, and the therapeutic nature of the human/horse relationship.

When the warrior has completed their tour, they are invited to the ranch to spend as much time as it takes to "decompress" and re-adjust to civilian life, get the support from the vets who are staffing the ranch caring for the horses, and can use the time to re-integrate into family and community.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Almost-Home-Ranch/120366584697633

Shelby will be grateful for any and all donations. She is currently caring for 6 horses in the program and we are starting our first capital campaign after Thanksgiving.

We have plans to expand the program to allow 10 vets to stay in residence at the ranch for a 10-week program (50 vets per year) and a maximum of 10 horses of active personnel at a time. If we can reach some lofty money raising goals, we are looking at bying out a "dude ranch" facility in Hot Springs where we can further expand and start an equine therapy program (Physical therapy based) for veterans with traumatic brain injury (which I will run as a volunteer.)

The address is: 20971 West HWY 62, Lincoln, AR 72744

aj