Creating Peace at The Gentle Barn

 Our year has just started for at-risk, inner city, and special needs children to come to The Gentle Barn and groom the horses, hold the chickens, cuddle the turkeys, take nature walks, work in the garden, make wishes at the wishing well, and cultivate self-awareness and hope for the future!  We have agencies from all over Southern California enrolled in our program and we are so excited to have them!
This year we are hosting groups of children from drug and alcohol recovery programs, foster agencies, probation camps, and from the inner city. These kids have a high risk of addiction, crime, suicide, and abuse to others.  Bringing them to The Gentle Barn not only helps them be gentle and kind to others, but it also helps them find themselves in the barnyard.  Feeling needed, not feeling alone, and practicing confidence can change these teens’ lives forever.
Our rescued animals enjoy being ambassadors as well.  They have all been through the same loneliness, hopelessness, and fear that our guests are feeling.  They have overcome their pasts, and learned to forgive, trust, and find joy again.  Now, as they can pay it forward and help others, they experience a sense of purpose and pleasure.
The agencies that enroll in our program each year come as our guests, and it is the support from people like you that enables us to continue our work for both people and animals.  Thank you for your continued donations at www.gentlebarn.org.
The Gentle Barn is home to hundreds of animals rescued from abuse and neglect, and host to school field trips, private tours, and inner city, at-risk, and special needs children.  The Gentle Barn is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for guests to hug the cows, feed the horses, give the pigs tummy rubs, cuddle the turkeys, and so much more.
For tickets, directions and more info, go to www.gentlebarn.org.