Happy Holidays to Everyone!
December 2024
21 Years Strong and Still Growing!
About Ray of Light Farm: Ray of Light Farm is a non-profit horse and donkey rescue, and animal-assisted wellness center dedicated to helping people make a positive connection with life through our animals. Our partnership with the animals is a mutually beneficial relationship that helps improve the quality of life for both human and animal. This is most evident in our Horse Feathers Veterans Program and in our on-going career development classes with the students at Franklin Academy. We also continue to offer specialized home school programs, wellness walkabouts, and many other options for opportunities to spend healing time with the animals. And, as always, we invite visitors at no cost.
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New Programs! We’re still growing! Introducing 2 New programs this year created and facilitated by Chris Irwin and certified mentors: “Boots and Hooves on the Ground” for facilitators of first responders and veterans with PTSD, and “Discover Your Inner Horse” – a pilot course for Franklin Academy teachers demonstrating how and why leadership with horses is akin to teaching students with autism and other neurodivergent populations. For both programs, working side by side with the horses raises self-awareness and develops conscious awareness of our own unconscious behavior. Simply put, it’s life changing.
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New Rescues and Adoptions: In our 20+ years, Ray of Light Farm has rescued and placed over 125 horses and donkeys, and countless smaller animals. We recently said goodbye to Steady and Veronica, 2 rescued mini horses who left together for their forever home. Most recently, we were made aware of a pair of Haflinger horses that were headed for slaughter – a young mother and son driving team that had been used to pull a liquid manure wagon on a NY farm. The farmer bought bigger equipment that the team could not pull, so they were sent off to market. Intercepted and rescued, Tina and Larry have been adopted by our Horse Feathers Veterans Program to permanently become part of our healing family. A great deal of patience and partnership will be needed as Larry is 100% blind…disabled, but not unable.
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Our Challenge – like the grocery store – costs have skyrocketed! EVERY PENNY COUNTS as we battle the increasing costs of goods needed to care for the animals and the facility they live in. Our longevity and our ability to stay true to our mission would not have been possible without the strong community support that surrounds us. This support comes to us in many forms through volunteer hours, program fees, in-kind contributions, community events and fundraising events. But the single most important source of revenues is through donations and private foundation grants made by members of our community. Please join us in making the 2024 YEAR END APPEAL a success!
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year!
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Gratefully yours,
Bonnie Buongiorne, Founder