May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we'd like to kick it off by saying THANK YOU to all who have supported our organization through our recent fundraisers to "Help Heroes Thrive" at the Big Red Barn Retreat. From the Month of the Military Child t-shirt fundraiser in April, to Midlands Gives Early Giving, and Seen Through Horses early fundraising, you have helped us raise over $3,000 in the month of April! You are truly making a difference in the lives of our heroes, and we are sincerely grateful for your continued support and dedication! Remember, Midlands Gives is on May 7th, so there is still time to get your friends, family, and coworkers in on the biggest online philanthropy movement in the Midlands, scroll down to learn more!
As the weather continues to get warmer and the sun shines brighter, we have several exciting events, programs, and volunteer opportunities for you to become involved in this month. Join us at 518 Smokehouse for Memorial Day, check out our NEW Greenville Peer-to-Peer Group in partnership with Upstate Warrior Solution, sign up for our upcoming TM training and Farm-to-Table classes, sign up to help us in the garden and BRBR kitchen, and more. Continue reading to get involved and support our veterans and first responders all month long!
Upcoming Events
Midlands Gives 2024
Help us reach our $30,000 giving goal to support military and first responders! Your donations will enable our programs to help these heroes thrive in the aftermath of their service. Your support is crucial in providing access to our transformative and life-saving classes and training sessions.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Create a fundraising page - fundraising pages are a way to connect your passion and network by creating your own personal campaign to raise money for the BRBR. You choose the donation goal, get the word out and become a CHAMPION for the BRBR!
Donate early today! - early giving opened on April 1st, so you don't have to wait until May 7th to donate, you can visit our page and schedule a donation today using the button link below!
Share our posts on social media and with friends - join our team and help us reach our GIVING GOAL of $30,000 by following us on Facebook and Instagram (our links are at bottom of this email) and sharing our posts!
Set up a matching fund - Organizations and business's can create excitement and show support for the Big Red Barn Retreat and the Veterans and first responders we serve by creating a matching fund for Midlands Gives Day. Double your dollar and maximize your impact in the lives of our heroes, click the button below to fill out our matching funds form today!
Help us raise funds to support the BRBR this Memorial Day!
Thanks to the gracious support of David Turner and LTC Hospitality, 518 Smokehouse will be hosting an American flag fundraiser to support the Big Red Barn Retreat's programs and services for veterans this upcoming Memorial Day!
Join us at 518 Smokehouse in Chapin, SC on May 27th anytime from [time to time] to buy a flag and place it in the back lawn to remember and honor our fallen veterans.
The Dam Boat Run at Lake Murray features incredible powerboats, attracting enthusiasts for two days of thrilling performances while raising support for the BRBR's programs and services for veterans and first responders. It's a showcase of nautical beauty and power in support of important causes. Why wait, sign up for some summer fun today!
Programs and Services
Introducing our NEW Peer-to-Peer Coffee Group in Greenville, SC!
In partnership with Upstate Warrior Solution
We are excited to invite you to our new coffee group for veterans AND first responders in Greenville, SC! It's a weekly meetup at the Upstate Warrior Solutions Rupert Huse Veteran Center where veterans and first responders can come together to share their stories, connect with their peers, and relax with a good ol' cup of Joe.
Click on the image here for GPS directions and join us this week!
VETERANS: Unwind, relax, and connect with your peers at the BRBR!
At the Log Cabin Every Friday Morning at 9:30 AM
Join us for coffee at the Log Cabin every Friday morning at 9:30 AM for our Veteran Peer-to-Peer Groups. Connect with fellow veterans, share your experiences, enjoy the nature within our beautiful 75 acres, and forge lasting friendships in a supportive setting.
No pre-registration required!
Peer-to-Peer Coffee Groups at the BRBR are sponsored by Caliber Coffee, thank you for your support!
Transcendental Meditation Training
FREE Training by Donielle Freeberg at the BRBR
Transcendental Meditation, or TM, is a meditation technique that allows those struggling with stress and anxiety to calm their nervous system and reconnect the mind, body, heart and spirit. This practice is free of any religion, philosophy, or belief system and involves repeating a mantra in one's mind until reaching a state of inner peace.
The goal of TM is to learn to notice distracting thoughts and return to your mantra to help promote a relaxed state of awareness. After practicing TM twice a day for 15–20 minutes, many say the practice helps them reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, lower blood pressure, improves sleep patterns, and more! Sign up for our June training today using the purple button here!
We have current openings in our Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program!
EAP provides hands-on, experiential interaction with our horses to receive immediate feedback and engage in creative problem-solving to overcome life's challenges.
Clients say “I gained more from one session than I did from years of traditional therapy.” EAP assists with dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, relationship struggles and a variety of other issues. Mindfulness, coping skills, and creating a new story are all part of the process. Don’t miss out - complete our interest form today! EAP services are provided at no cost to veterans and first responders.
Form Up Fridays
May 24th Session
Due to Memorial Day weekend, we will meet on the 3rd Friday of May. We have been focusing on areas of wellness in 2024. Discover strategies for stress management, self-regulation, and self-care with us during our upcoming Form Up Friday session on May 17th!
Boost personal development, acquire new life skills, and enhance your well-being through the power of horses. Sign up for our May Form Up Friday session now!
Join us for Farm-to-Table Cooking Classes in the BRBR Log Cabin!
Led by Chef Terrell Harlan
Our Farm-to-Table classes are back in session! Preparing and sharing meals with loved ones fosters connections and strengthens relationships, particularly important for those feeling isolated. Farm to Table cooking classes will showcase global recipes, including those from regions with US military bases like South Korea and Germany. Fill out our interest form for our next Farm-to-Table class today!
We are able to offer Farm-to-Table Cooking Classes thanks to grant funding from Colonial Life, thank you for your support!
Volunteer Opportunities
Cabin Reset Volunteer Opportunities
Help us reset the cabin for our next Warrior PATHH class!
We're currently seeking small groups to volunteer each Thursday for a vital task: resetting the cabin for the next class. This commitment provides our WP PATHH guides with the chance to return home, rejuvenate, and cherish time with their loved ones. Sign up for the next cabin reset group by clicking the button here!
SIGN-UP NOW, volunteer time-slots get filled quickly!
Join us in the BRBR kitchen to make a positive impact on the lives of veterans and first responders! Work alongside talented chefs to prepare meals during the 7-day stay in the BRBR Log Cabin. Click to sign up and be part of something rewarding!
**Please be advised: While we try our best to make sure each volunteer is assigned a time slot, Warrior PATHH Food Prep volunteering is assigned on a first come, first serve basis. You are not assigned a volunteer time slot until you have received a confirmation email from the Big Red Barn Retreat. Thank you!**
We need your help in the BRBR Garden!
It's finally spring, and we need your help tending to the BRBR Garden! Volunteer duties include watering, raking, weeding, planting, picking produce for our Warrior PATHH program, and more!
Bring a friend and sign up for our upcoming garden volunteer opportunities today!
Posttraumatic growth is a transformative process resulting from challenging experiences, prompting individuals to reflect on their identity and life's purpose. Veterans and first responders often find that navigating this process enhances their lives, fostering authenticity, meaning, and purpose.
Five key areas of growth emerge, including newfound hope, deeper interpersonal connections, personal resilience, gratitude for life, and a spiritual shift involving profound existential inquiries.
Discover the potential for posttraumatic growth in your journey by taking the first step – sign up for the Warrior PATHH program using the buttons below today to embark on a transformative path towards resilience and purpose.
We have exciting opportunities for businesses to sponsor our upcoming events, including the Leon Irons Memorial Golf Tournament, the Fall Jam at the Ballpark (our annual country music concert at Segra Park), the BRBR Oyster Roast, and more!
Join in on the fun while supporting those who have served and sacrificed so much for us, email us at info@thebigredbarnretreat.org to learn more about our available sponsorship opportunities!
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The Big Red Barn Retreat, 8024 Winnsboro Rd, Blythewood, SC 29016, United States, (803) 716-9097
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