At the event, there was a tree with horse photos and names to buy a holiday gift for. I immediately grabbed the tag labeled Doodlebug, as that’s my sister-in-law’s nickname.
From that day, I was hooked.
I’d been looking for a volunteer opportunity for a couple of years and was intentionally seeking work that was beneficial for the recipients of the services while at the same time not being emotionally depleting for me. After having spent the last two decades volunteering with addiction organizations, I wanted to give of myself, but be uplifted as well. That is exactly what I found at Barnabas. I knew nothing about horse care; I just knew that being around them made me feel at peace.
Countless individuals will never know who I am, and the anonymity of my service was appealing to me as well. I was not seeking accolades; I was seeking purpose.
I’ve learned a lot over the past two years, and have developed some very special equine friendships. Their affection keeps me coming back week after week, as well as the knowledge that this community depends on what we, as volunteers, contribute.
Andrea L. (Volunteer)