SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Hunkapi Programs is a local horse farm and the facility needs urgent renovations. The organization works to continue providing therapy to clients of all ages as it looks for building upgrades.
Owner and Executive Director Terra Schaad is asking for the public's help to keep services uninterrupted.
"This farm was founded in the 40s and everything is falling apart but our program is moving forward," she explained.
The longstanding barn is a big part of the much-needed renovations, it won't be there much longer because demolition is scheduled. Parts of the farm are no longer safe for the therapy horses housed there but anyone can help, which helps the nearly 300 patients a week who visit.
"They get to meet the horses, they get to engage with them and really learn each other’s moods and behaviors," Schaad said.
Through horse therapy, the animals and the patients mutually benefit, ultimately beginning the healing process post-trauma.
"Some of them are rescues, some come from kill pens and trauma is anything that's less than nurturing, so we want patients to continue to access the site's services," she added.
Over the decades, some areas where therapy is conducted have deteriorated and other parts need the basics like water and electrical to keep operating efficiently, especially as it gets hotter. Of course, the price tag is high for such repairs.
"A project like this is 100s of thousands of dollars, as we have more than 30 horses on the property and even if people can't give money, we could use extra volunteers to help out with the demo," she said.
Schaad believes in this property and the people and the power of the bond between them. She wants to ensure the facility remains a haven for the horses and the humans who heal from it.
MORE DETAILS: https://www.hunkapi.org/contact/
DONATE HERE: HunkapiPrograms, Inc. | Kindful https://hunkapi.kindful.com/?campaign=325973
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