Winter Fundraiser and Update
Hey there, friends of Haven Acres!
In winter we sometimes start feeling disconnected from the supporters and friends of Haven Acres. Since we have had some unexpected costs arise in the last few weeks, we thought it would be prudent to send out an update and give folks an opportunity to once again partner with us.
As many of you know, Cowboy got very sick and had to be put down last weekend. The cost of this particular incident was about $500. In addition, hay prices for the rest of the winter are going to be higher than usual due to a hay shortage in Minnesota. In the off season, we still have to pay for hoof trims and shoes, medications, spring vaccinations, insurance, and salary for the Assistant Director. To finish out the winter season strong, we are praying for an additional $4,000 to be raised over and above the usual monthly donations we receive. Please prayerfully consider supporting us financially this winter! We are asking for donations to be made by March 9, 2019 through check or PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr…). These methods of giving are received by Haven Acres immediately, whereas, if people give through Facebook or another means, the funds do not reach us for weeks. For more information on donating please visit http://havenacresmn.org/donate/.
By way of update…
This spring we will be beginning six weeks of training for all the mentors at Haven Acres. We go over the basics of horsemanship and horse safety, our policies and procedures, and theology. We try to do our very best to train mentors who will be bright lights of God’s truth and grace in these children’s and teens’ lives. We also give the horses “refreshers” in the spring to get them ready for sessions.
Then this summer we will begin our regular mentorship sessions on June 3rd. We will be seeing around 50 children and teens each week free of charge who will get the opportunity to meet with the same mentor and horse weekly all summer. We work on creating a work-ethic through regular ranch chores, building their confidence through interacting with a horse, and gaining a strong sense of support and belonging through a relationship with their mentor. We believe that each participant is incredibly valuable and worth every minute and penny that is volunteered and given.
We are also excited to revamp our STABLE program this summer! Our STABLE program stands for Spiritual Training and Biblical Leadership Enhancement. We spend the summer training older teens and young adults in horsemanship, leadership, and Biblical truth. The goal of this program is to strengthen the ministry through the graduate’s future service at Haven Acres.
Come fall we are excited to begin reaching out into the community more by offering some small group sessions and field trips. We already have an event planned with Minnesota Hands and Voices, a local organization that serves families with deaf children. Additionally, we are hoping to collaborate with some other group homes, schools, and organizations that work with youth in order to expand our outreach.
Thank you so much to everyone who supports Haven Acres through service and donations. This is a big endeavor, to reach into the lives of these kids and teens, and it takes many hands! God is so good to us every year to provide all the people and funds that we need, and we are so grateful for those of you who are willing to be a part of that.
