| News Release: For Immediate Release |
SHINING HOPE FARMS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS
MOUNT HOLLY, CHARLOTTE, & CONOVER, NC (November 10, 2022) – Shining Hope Farms is excited to announce 20 years of service to children and adults with special needs, Veterans, and those in need of mental health services across our communities.
Since 2002, Shining Hope Farms has provided life-changing therapies and activities, for those in need, at little to no cost to the patient or their family. Over 20 years ago Milinda Kirkpatrick, the Executive Director, saw a need in the community for these services and the benefit of incorporating the horse into the clinical treatment strategy. She founded Shining Hope Farms to provide these services, with a heart to serve the most vulnerable in our community with the greatest need, low income families. Milinda had a desire to serve them with the highest level of care and credentialed staff and worked hard to become one of only two Premier Accredited Centers offering the Hippotherapy treatment strategy (their specialty) in the state of North Carolina, and the only one in the Charlotte Metro Area covering Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Catawba Counties (a 15-county reach in total). They also offer nonclinical Therapeutic Riding lessons, a curriculum-based Saddles & Salutes Veterans Program, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) mental health services for anyone in need.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would grow to serve over 300 participants weekly across 3 locations, but the need is great, and the Lord keeps providing opportunities for us to serve those who need us in greater and greater ways. The last 20 years have given me more joy than I could ever imagine to be a part of miracles for these children and these families. It has been an honor to serve them, and we are here to serve anyone in need of our services,” says Milinda.
Shining Hope Farms will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary with The Catawba Chamber for a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at their Conover location December 6, at 4:30 PM. They are located at 6347 St Peters Church Rd in Conover. They are inviting the public to join them as they celebrate their work, the lives changed, and the bright future ahead with their growing programs and services.
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About Shining Hope Farms
Shining Hope Farms is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to enable children and adults to reach their full potential through the use of equine assisted activities and therapies. Programs provided include physical, occupational, and speech therapy utilizing equine movement as a treatment strategy called hippotherapy. Shining Hope Farms is the only facility offering this treatment strategy in the counties that they operate in. Equine assisted mental health counseling is also offered along with therapeutic riding for children and adults including Veterans. They are a Premier Accredited Center of PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International) as well as a member of the American Hippotherapy Association. Locations include sites in Charlotte, Mt. Holly, and Conover, NC. Between the three locations there are 30+ horses and 50+ staff members consisting of occupational and physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, PATH Intl. certified riding instructors, and administrative staff, plus many wonderful volunteers. Shining Hope Farms is also a GuideStar Exchange Gold participant, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability among nonprofits. For more information, please visit the website at shininghopefarms.org or call 704-827-3788.
Media Contact:
Milinda Kirkpatrick, Executive Director, (704) 827-3788, hope@shininghopefarms.org