CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) — FOX 46 Charlotte is pairing up with SHARE Charlotte to highlight deserving local organizations this Giving Tuesday week.
Shining Hope Farms is a therapeutic organization that was created to serve those in the community who have disabilities. Some of those disabilities include cerebral palsy, autism, down’s syndrome, developmental disabilities, brain injuries, hypotomia and more. They provide services to children and adults through various programs, including their horse program.
Jessi Culbertson is an equine professional for the horse program. In this role, she selects the horses used, takes care of their training and is responsible for the animals’ upkeep.
“It’s become a community nonprofit that’s been around for about 18 years for everyone to enjoy,” Culbertson said.
They have three farms: Mount Holly, Charlotte and Conover. They offer year round services.
The horse can be used as a treatment tool that can help with working on a person’s needs. One way this is done occurs when a licensed therapist uses the horse to help a patient who has a physical disability. One of their therapists said that by putting a patient on a horse, it helps with hand and eye coordination, activates the neurons in the spinal cord and also loosens joints in a body to allow better movement.
“Horse care is by far one of our largest expense. We have 28 therapy horses between three farms. And to feed those animals, it takes a lot,” Culbertson said.
They are asking for your help to feed their horses for the year of 2019. It costs for $24 a week to feed one horse.
If you would like to support Shining Hope Farms, CLICK HERE.
“This is going to help our community by helping allowing children learn how to walk, learn how to talk and learn how to improve their life quality skills,” Culbertson said.
