Disabled Combat Vets' Healing Farm

Update: June 9, 2016
Please keep sharing this campaign to save this farm from foreclosure.

Today June 9, 2016, I reached out to Today.com and the State Farm $25,000 Give Away Contest to support the future of this farm for our Veterans.  Today before 5pm is the last day to enter the contest. Thank you Maurine Daw for the contest information! Lets pray it is a winner!!

Everyone has a chance to win so go to Today.com and find the link! With much gratitiude please fill out the entry form and direct your essay to help in saving our farm!

Thank You!

Thank you Fox 61 for sharing our story! ‌ 

 http://fox61.com/2016/05/27/scotland-farm-where-vets-relax-faces-closure/ ‌

Update: May 24, 2016
Thank you channel 3 wfsb for coming to our farm today to share our story. 

http://www.wfsb.com/story/32054853/horse-farm-that-helps-veterans-in-danger-of-closing ‌"

UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL"

FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!
MARCH 20, 2016
⚠ UPLOADED THIS CAMPAIGN FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT AND FUNDING⚠

HELP SHARE THIS CAMPAIGN AND TAKE THIS CHALLENGE TO GO VIRAL.

HELP TO REACH OTHER COMBAT RELATED DISABLED VETERANS IN NEED....

THIS IS AN EFFORT BY REGULAR PEOPLE TO GIVE HOPE TO OUR VETERANS.

My name is Sheila Lambert.  Once a Navy wife, a civilian citizen with a dream and a mission. I'm a cancer survivor in which my personal journey enriched my life and passions to help others. The journey lead me to fullfill a dream of owning my own farm, Huntington-Fields Farm. As a survivor I came to realize and experience life had offered me a second chance. A clearer purpose. I felt I could help others through the peacefulness of my farm and horses. Through my own personal hardships and transitions I was blessed with the opportunity of making many new friends (a.k.a. amazing Angels) over the past 5 years.  My farm has become a Special Space for Veterans with combat related disabilities.

Veterans need our help more now than ever and the farm has proven to be a source of their needs.

So on March 20, 2016 I decided to keep this mission going by reaching out to the public through GoFundMe to bring awareness of this unique space which has been privately helping Veterans for the past 3 years.

****The Begining****
March 2013 Veterans' Ice Breaker Gathering at one of the farm ponds. Photo of myself with volunteers, veterans and special quest John Niecrash, Co-Founder of Work Vessels for Veterans(3rd from left).

http://www.workvesselsforveterans.org/


The First Season of the Veterans' Farm of New England

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Farm-Grows-for-Veterans_Hartford-218006211.html

****Our Disabled Veterans Needs****
Since the farm story aired, more and more combat military are returning home from active duty with visible injuries and  non-visible combat related disabilities, such as PTSD.

In addition to those currently returning home ,  there are thousands of disabled Veterans from prior combats still struggling with their disabilities seeking help through various therapy modalities while fighting for VA benefits. We are hearing their similar stories again and again.

Veterans are returning home to many unanticipated stituations, from job loss, home foreclosures, homelessness and medical issues only to find a deficiency and back log of VA Resources andMedical Benefits.

The most serious of these realities are Veteran suicide statistics. According to the  2012 Department of Veterans Affairs study, 22 veterans a day take their own lives. The VA continues to be over-loaded with endless other matters as well.

****Veterans' Feedback and Experiences****
Participating Veterans share similar feedback. Finding this 'special space' to be a missing link in their healing process.  Veterans share a sense of spirit rejuvenated through their visits and participation. 

 Veterans get involved in grooming  and caring of 5 horses who have retired to the farm.  Activities range from fishing the property ponds, gardening for self therapy relaxation, creative woodworking shop to diverse micro-farming and homesteading activities.

This is a private farm for Veteran, those involved  in the day- to-day  farm care express feeling that they are  helping one another therapeutically through  the aqricultural, equine recreation, the exercise, comraderrie, team support  and socialization.

Participants can be involved from as little as a one day visit during the week, up to 20 hours per week.

Visit the Facebook page at Huntington-Fields Farm Home of the Brave to view more photos to be uploaded soon. 

***Meet Our Veterans and Volunteers****

Meet 2 volunteer Veterans Mel,Facilitator and Lynne, co-Facilitator who frequent the farm from Vets N Pets of Providence RI VA Hospital.

 
Ken, Veteran and Volunteer with Romeo

Alex, Iraq-Afgan Combat Veteran who finds therapy in fishing with Rob who also an Iraq-Afghan Veteran.


Rob enjoys the tranquility reflected in his farm photography. 

Rob, Iraq-Afgan Combat Veteran.



Paul, USMC Veteran Dessert Storm and Volunteer with wife and daughter.

5 retired horses who benefit from Veterans' care.

The farm has become a  mental and physical wellness retreat at NO COST other than than the Veterans willingness to be involved.

****A Farm with Endless Possibilities****

This 32-acre farm is located in the scenic country town of Scotland  CT and has been hosting group events such as VETS N PETS and V.A.D. Project R.E.S.P.I.T.E. with the objective of Veterans helping Veterans to foster one another in healing of their combat-related disabilites.  Veterans have already benefitted from this farm and describe their experiences as   "A Season of Healing A Season to Grow." Always excited to come back to be involved. 

Volunteer Veterans from Vets N Pets, Providence, RI

**** How the Farm Gives Back and More****
A retreat with pets and horses featuring a wide variety of activities including hands on homesteading and farming . In addition to healing, the future of the farm gives back to the community through farmers market, helping Veterans socialize and transition.  

We need your help...
To help keep this farm afloat and expand efforts to help even more Vets your support is critically needed.

 Plans are underway and expanding to pave the path for others here on the farm.
 Layout of property and reconstructing of livestock outbuildings.

New England spring is upon us and we need to go full throttle to make this happen. Your ongoing support makes all the difference.

Your donation in funding of this campaign is the  primary force fostering Veterans.  By promoting and inspiring more canidate Veterans, they can reach their individual  personal goals and assist them in transition back to regular day-to-day life. Ultimately helping them excel with a greater diversity of skills that they will acquire through their farm retreat experience.

Huntington-Fields Farm is the pilot hub of the efforts of my personal survival-success and  dream to help through love of horses and the peaceful serenity of the property. By giving back to our Veterans we show thanks to them for their service. When paying it forward full circle our actions show them ways to reconnect and never give up! 

Our Veterans paid a very high price to protect OUR America and it is our duty to give back to help them and aid and assist them to reintegrate back into sustainable lives, to leading productive lives again, especially in these uncertain times. 

Everything is in place here at the farm!

PLEASE HELP THIS MESSAGE AND MISSION GO VIRAL. SHARE THIS PAGE WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AND CHALLENGE THEM TO TAKE THAT STEP TO HELP ACHIEVE OUR CAMPAIGN GOAL. GO FUND ME IS A POWERFUL NETWORK TO BRING AMAZING RESULTS TO OUR VETERANS.
THE GOAL IS SET TO ULTIMATELY SAVE THE FARM FOR VETERANS.

All donations and your particiaption of sharing with others is sincerely appreciated.

Each donators name will be engraved on the farms' "Our Gratitude Wall".

God bless and thank you for helping to stand by our troops who are in need yet too proud to ask.

In loving Memory of my late big brother Walter, USMC Vietnam.

Powerful Veteran Memorial in Baltic, CT

****More Photos coming soon****
Alex, USMC Irag Afgan tour on a Liberty Day enjoying a Toby Keith Concert with his Marine Brothers and an unexpected invite for Alex, who is a huge country music fan, to sing on stage withToby Keith 9 years ago!