HAMILTON COUNTY — The heat didn’t stop a community effort to help a nonprofit that helps local teens struggling with mental health take a step forward.
On Saturday, a large group of volunteers gathered at Kotiwi Stables, run by Ben’s Ranch Foundation, to erect the fence.
WRTV
The nonprofit helps teens struggling with mental health by connecting them to jobs and other experiences on farms, stables and outdoor facilities.
Broads McVeigh set up the foundation after losing his own son in 2015 and his own struggles with mental health issues.
McVay says her son, Ben, has struggled with bipolar disorder for 10 years, and the one thing that changed his life for the better was spending 18 months in Wyoming working with horses.
View previous coverage | Foundation helps teens struggling with mental health issues
Foundation helps teens struggling with mental health issues
“This is prevalent in our society and we feel that innovative and new solutions need to be part of the solution,” McVay said.
Teens served by Ben’s Ranch also gain real-world experience through internships and jobs.
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Ben’s Ranch is currently working on adding another 18 acres of pasture for horses.
McVay said the move will double the size of the foundation’s operations and allow it to serve more children.
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“It’s amazing how just being outdoors for a few minutes, as well as interacting with animals, can instantly produce adrenaline and brain chemicals that affect your mood and state of mind,” McVay said.
Organizers hope to expand partnerships with more farms and stables around the state to broaden Ben’s Ranch’s reach.
Read more | Ben’s Ranch Foundation partners with Hamilton County Parks to expand services (wrtv.com)
“We believe that one day every community and every school district needs a facility like this to help kids grow and heal,” McVay said. “We want to be an advocate for the vision that what we’re doing can be replicated in your community and your school district.”
To learn more about Ben’s Ranch and how you can get involved, click here
