HIGHFILL — Horses for Healing is reaching out to the local community for volunteers to help make a positive difference in the lives of Northwest Arkansas children with special needs. HFH’s sixweek spring session begins on March 2 with about 100 children planning to attend classes Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
HFH provides equine-assisted therapy to children with special needs that helps them grow physically, mentally and emotionally. Volunteers need no horse experience, just a love for children and a desire to help their community. They will work with children by helping them make horse-related crafts in a classroom setting and by walking alongside children as they ride their horses. The volunteers' greatest impact is the positive influence and relationship they build with the children while working at HFH.
According to Linda Brown, Executive Director of Horses for Healing, “Volunteering at Horses for Healing is such a unique experience. Our volunteers get to see so many life-changing moments. We have children who say their first words while riding a horse, and then there are those who have taken their first step because of the physical strength, balance and coordination they gained from riding. Anyone who loves children will be deeply touched by the difference they can make by spending as little as three hours of their time a week here.”
New volunteer orientation will be held from 9 a.m. until 12 noon, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 22, 23 and 24, and on Tuesday evening, Feb. 22, from 5 to 7. New volunteers must attend only one of these classes and makeup days are available upon request.
Horses for Healing is located at 14673 Daniels Road in rural Bentonville. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Pam Rains at 236-3823 or e-mail her at [email protected].
News, Pages 7 on 02/16/2011