As Summer unfolds at the SRD Ranch and the quarantine is being lifted, clients and volunteers are slowly returning while adhering to the restrictions still in place. Ranch Crew teens enjoy helping with the SRD Therapy Herd and the animals are responding with love and excitement. The barn is being painted a cheery red and the chicken coop is almost complete with its addition of window flower boxes. The SRD school-site visitation program is being restructured to meet demands in the event that the junior and senior high schools don’t reopen in the fall.
During this COVID-19 crisis, not-for-profit foundations needed to realign their thinking about maintaining virtual communication with their clients and donors. New strategies post-quarantine, will force the foundations to think more collaboratively in order to continue their missions. SRD keeps reaching out to organizations with similar missions to provide that support and hopefully expand services.
SRD was visited by both Alex and Angela Padilla, their family and Charlene Swayze and her daughter during the Family Friendly Ranch Time program. Mrs. Padilla is the founder of FundaMental Change, an organization whose mission is to make a difference in the lives of those living with mental illness in underserved communities. Since its inception, she has continued to work tirelessly with her events to bring awareness to remove the stigma surrounding mental disorders. She was excited to witness the work that SRD has been doing with children and families who are suffering with their own mental health challenges utilizing the equine-assisted learning method.
Charlene Swayze and her husband, Don, started the Swayze Foundation as a commitment to provide scholarship opportunities in art, sports, equestrian and animal therapy to individuals with any and all types of disabilities. Their Foundation has partnered with multiple organizations to provide support and enhance their mission. Both families need to be applauded for their passion of service to others and it was an honor to have them visit SRD. We’re looking forward to working together in the future, please visit our website to see what we are all about: www.srdstraighteningreins.org