Flood Recovery for Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies Center

Save to Favorites

Our center serving veterans and people with disabilities was hit hard by the flooding of the Mississippi River in early May. We are working towards reparing and cleaning the facility and grounds to return our therapy horses and resume our services. We've made some great progress since the devastation of the flood, but still have some tasks to complete before our horses can safely return and we resume serving clients.

This work day will focus on clearing debris and cleaning up our pasture and turnout areas. Tasks may also include mending the damaged fences. Your time is appreciated, whether for 30 minutes or 6 hours... all skills levels welcome!

Other needs to help return our center to working order include skilled laborers of carpentry/contracting, fencing, machinery and electric. Thank you to volunteers of IBEW who are scheduled to replace the outlets that are corroded from the water. Carpenters/Contractors are needed to help get our woo d mounting deck untwisted and back on its foundation. The river current has moved and torqued the mounting deck, largely affecting the ramp and foundation. Our main goal with fence repairs begins with the turnout closet to the river/connected to the paddock and barn area (referred to as our J.O. turnout). Posts and rails will need to be reinforced, in addition to possible fencing foundation or post reinforcement repairs. The current has washed away large portions of the earth that buried the concrete fence foundation. The foundation is now exposed and visibly weakened. Lastly, our current needs include that of a bobcat or skid-steer operator to return our indoor arena footing (that was removed prior to the flooding).