And this past weekend, many of the seven acres of new pasture was cleared. The process is just beginning and it's exciting. We need you all to step up to the plate with us and contribute just $10, $25, $35 or more to cover the $2,500 of this stage's clearing costs. You can make your online gift here.

The property was chosen for it's mix of old, undisturbed wooded areas adjacent to acreage that just about eight years ago were hay fields. What is this means is that no old growth trees are being sacrificed but instead, just the overgrown fields are being cleared, the heavy equipment doing what is too many years past the capabilities of a bush hog!

Folks in Town
And the community - you would be hard pressed to find Americans any more committed to doing more for their military men and women that those who reside right here in the State Road/Elkin/Jonesville Tri-county area (Wilkes, Surry, & Yadkin, NC).  "What can we do?" is the common response to hearing of our plans for a horse farm for our vets. It reconfirms our understanding that Americans want to do more for those who have given so much for our freedom and security.

Some Background...

A Process
As many of you know who have been following AHR's birth and growth, the central program initiative has been to open the horse farm up to host transitioning veterans as well as provide a therapeutically appropriate living environment for veterans in treatment for PTSD. While we've worked to open that farm retreat, the veterans community awareness and networking side of the house has just been exploding with growth.

Stepping Back & Re-Grouping
We want to be clear about where we were, what has led us to step back and take a different path towards the same goal, and what the progress trajectory looks like at this point. The initial plan was to accept the good will of a combat veteran and take possession of a 256 acre, riverside ranch and begin the program there. After much consultation with board members, financial consultants, and the like, we stepped back and let that opportunity pass by, and here is why.

Serving Veteran Needs
After much consultation, thought, and even some good old fashion prayer, it became clear that although the farm was beautiful, program ready, and more than a group could ask for, what came with it was a monthly mortgage after 12-24 months of more than $15,000 a month. Don't misunderstand, we love and appreciate the goodwill of Dell who made the offer, his heart is as big as that property, but we began to think also about how we might be better stewards of your contributions in providing program assistance to veterans.

A focus on the task
It is important to remember what the task at hand really is, and that is to  model for Congress and the nation what can be accomplished for our veterans. Our meetings with Congressional , VA Med staff, Ft. Bragg transitional, and other staff and personnel made clear that what is needed now is a sound example of what can be done for our returning heroes to set an example to be repeated by public and private efforts. Doing this retreat right is more important that doing it big.

More for Less
The result of that analysis was to determine that we could accomplish the same services for our men and women heroes for about 1/10th the cost in terms of real estate. Will the farm be as flashy and awe inspiring? Well, I guess that all depends on what inspires us.  If having Heroes enjoy a place of quite retreat while transitioning is what inspires us, then yes. We'll save 15K a month and serve many veterans and develop important community partnerships.

Stewardship
It all comes down to responsible stewardship of the gifts we receive. And by honoring the best of stewardship as we see it, we've slowed the progress towards opening Camp Hero. We feel it was the right decision and know in the long run, it will prove to be a wise choice. And now when you give, you can have the confidence that we will continue to make the best choices to serve the most veterans in the most effective way with each dollar contributed.

Making it Happen
As we bring the tractors to the Pleasant Ridge property to begin clearing roadways, a site for the barn and main building, and running power out to our cabin sites in the woods, what makes it all happen in your sharing of our vision and making a commitment with us. We can't do it alone, we need you along side of us. Please click on the donation link below today and make a difference in the lives of our returning men and women. Your gift of just $35 will make a huge difference! Stand with us and we'll accomplish so much we can be proud of.

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