Organizations coming together to better the community. That’s exactly what happened when Charlotte Bridge Home, The Independence Fund, and Shining Hope Farms partnered together on September 10, 2016. Veterans gave up their Saturday to do some grueling work in the extreme heat by unloading 590 bales of hay off a 53′ tractor trailer into the hayloft at the Charlotte farm.
Other Veterans and family members helped with other farm projects like painting pasture fencing, and deep cleaning the clinic. Group leaders Peter Samaroo, Peter Haarstick and Mike Chodkowski with Marc & Teri constructed a pagoda over the seating area for the families to enjoy while watching their children in the arena. Afterwards, a delicious BBQ meal prepared by Peter Samaroo and Teri & Marc Greene, was served with all the fixins and we invited our local fire department to partake in the meal to commemorate 9/11 and honor their service to our community.
Shining Hope Farms was surprised with a fantastic gift of an all terrain power wheel chair from The Independence Fund. This will enable us to take children and adults on the sensory trails when they are not able to ride a horse. We are so appreciative of this new equipment that will expand our scope of being able to serve those with special needs. Thank you Nick Kaylor for teaching us how to operate it. Special Thanks to Marcel Solomon for coordinating the event and being the point of contact for all organizations and volunteers. Funding for the projects and meal was provided by The Independence Fund. A huge Thank you Tommy Rieman and the Board of Directors of the Independence Fund for your kind generosity towards Shining Hope Farms and its participants!!! What a day, what a memory!