For years, I have prayed for God to use my natural talents in a way that would allow me to really make a difference in helping someone else.  Over the years that prayer has seemed to attach more to finding a way to help children on a grand scale.  Maybe parenthood caused the honing in of the purpose, I don’t know.  At any rate, I believe I’ve found the perfect fit.

Recently, I attended the Greater Shelby County Chamber Luncheon and happened by the booth of the Spirit of Hope Youth Ranch.  I had briefly noticed their newsletter at another function and made a mental note to find out more about the organization a few months ago but at the time the holidays were near and I’d just assumed a new role at work so it just dropped off my radar.

I called some time later and struck up a conversation with Joy O’Neal, the group’s President and expressed a desire to get involved and help.  Incidently, the changes I experienced at work put me in a much better position to help than I was in when I first became aware of Spirit of Hope.  God at work perhaps?  I’ll leave that to you to decide.

So what is Spirit of Hope and why is it such a great fit for us horse lovers?  It addresses two problems and allows a natural love of horses to place you in a position to effortlessly help kids who really need someone to step in and just be there.  Spirit of Hope takes in abused, neglected and abandoned horses and puts them to work through a riding program for children who have been in the same predicament as the horses that have found homes here.

We can help this program grow so easily by volunteering to help out.  The ranch needs experienced horse owners to help supervise the kids as they get familiar with the horses.  They also need volunteers to help care for the daily needs of the animals.  Feeding, watering, grooming and the long list of other small tasks we all love so much that go part and parcel with the keeping of horses.  Since these tasks are mostly a labor of love for “horse people” you can quickly see how this truly is the perfect way to give something wonderful, not only to our community but mankind in general.

If you want to find out more, please get in touch with me at www.whiteoakattic.com (contact us page) or contact the ranch directly http://wwwsohyr.com.

I’ll be talking more about some specific ways to promote the ranch and the services they offer so stay tuned.  What I have in mind will ask for your input but don’t worry it’s all free and will likely fit right in with what you’re already doing!

Talk to you soon, Lisa I.