2023 Dandelion Festival: A Community Celebration of Military Kids

37 Valley View Drive,Meriden CT 06451

23 April, 2023

Description

Did you know that the dandelion is the flower of the military child? It puts down roots almost anywhere and is impossible to destroy. Join Soul Friends and Blue Star Families’ New York Tri-State Chapter for a fun-filled day of celebrating our military kids, both past and present. Come join us as we celebrate these resilient kids with exhibitors, games, giveaways, horses, our partners, Veteran Service Organizations, Military Service Organizations, and others! All are welcome! About Soul FriendsEstablished since 2003, Soul Friends has provided therapeutic visits to over 5,500 children across the state of Connecticut. Soul Friends has established collaborative relationships with over 25 community agencies statewide, as well as being credentialed by the Department of Children and Families to serve children in need. Kate Nicoll, the founder, has presented at national and international conferences on our work and mission. We believe our mission of hope will comfort children in need Soul Friends’ staff partner with our working therapy animals to help children reach goals, to change behavior and experience hope. We believe in the stories of hope in healing of the human-animal bond – and we are committed to demonstrate continually our effectiveness through research efforts. Click for more information! About Blue Star Families The families of our all-volunteer military make unprecedented sacrifices these days to serve our country. Blue Star Families was founded by military spouses in 2009 to empower these families to thrive as they serve. We're committed to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors – individuals and organizations – to create vibrant communities of mutual support. We believe we're all stronger when we take care of one another. Our groundbreaking research is raising the nation's awareness of the unique challenges of military family life. With the help of neighbors across the country, we are overcoming the isolation and alienation of frequent moves, deployments, and reduced support from the government. Our innovative programs are solving specific challenges for military families, including fighting economic insecurity with resources that foster spouse career development, creating family strength with rich family programming, and providing critical peer support for caregivers, whose numbers are only increasing. With more than 230,000 members in our network, including in chapters and communities all over the world, we have touched more than 1.5 million military families. Through our research and program partnerships, we ensure that wherever American military families go, they can always feel connected, supported and empowered to thrive – in every community, across the nation, and around the globe. Click for more information! About Dream View Farm*Dream View Farm currently collaborates with Soul Friends providing therapeutic equine services to families and individuals. Dream View Farm is home to many happy animals, including horses, goats, rabbits, and chickens. With a quiet and friendly environment, our animals stay happy all day and all night. Each and every animal is treated as one of our own. Horse Boarding Dream View Farm offers full service customized to each horses needs: all-day turnout, large paddock space, hay all day, daily grain provided (Am/Pm), daily stall cleaning, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, heated bathroom, and wash stall.Trailer-ins Dream View Farm always welcomes riders to trailer in your horses to use the indoor for a small fee and proof of horses' health record.Dream View Farm also does: Birthday partiesHorse ClinicsOther Events (arts and crafts parties, etc)Click for more details! About All The Kings Horse Rescue The Collaboration: In 2021 All the King’s Horses Equine Rescue partnered with Soul Friends of CT. Soul Friends, Inc is a nonprofit established in 2003 with a mission to provide innovative clinical and educational programs that promote the healing benefits of the human-animal bond and nature therapy for at-risk children. At our rescue Soul Friends is partnering with our horses and is providing individual equine assisted psychotherapy and grant-funded group therapy. A shared office space is also provided at our farm. If you are interested in experiencing the benefit of the healing nature of horses, please contact Soul Friends, Inc for an intake. The Rescue: Since 2010 we they have saved over 100 equines. They remain in contact with all of the adopters of our horses to ensure all equines that have passed through our rescue remain safe. We believe saving is the easy part, and ensuring a “happily ever after” is a true rescue. They provide all our horses with a safety net and will take back ANY horse adopted through our organization that may require an alternative placement. Over 30 of our saves come from owner surrenders in our state of CT. We have been a resource to residents in our state who had to give up their equines due to financial restraints, untimely deaths, and illness. We also work hand in hand with the CT Department of Agriculture, taking in horses from active investigations and seized horses due to abuse and neglect within the state. Besides playing an active role in helping the states most at risk equines, we also actively educate the public on proper equine care and management. We are currently working with high school career training programs and act as a supervisor for college internship programs. We provide hands on experience and skills. Click here for more information!