By Joanne Bailey
The corner of Shaffer Avenue and 32nd Street always has been a place area residents purposely drove by to visit. First it was for the exotic animals that once roamed the property and now for the horses that are part of the Equine Assisted Development of the Great Lakes.
Found in 2009, Equine Assisted Development or EAD moved on to the old Tassell Ranch property a couple of years ago. It was one of the first organizations to partner with 3 two Ranch which had taken over the the property that had been abandoned for about 25 years. The goal of 3 two Ranch was to revitalize the structures and then partner with organizations that had missions focused on helping people.
EAD was a perfect fit in that the organization uses non-riding horses to help people— especially children — grow and heal from damaged and warped views of themselves.
Former WKTV writer Mike DeWitt shares his first-hand account on EAD’s process.
Since moving to the Kentwood area, the EAD has seen its footprint expand in the city, partnering with the Kentwood Public Schools’ after school program ARCH, bringing the horse experience to English-language learner students as well as continuing to work with foster and adopted children and the Manasseh Project, a safe house for human trafficked victims ages 12-17.
“It is our commitment to stand with these children, families, and survivors for the long hall,” said Deb VanderBand, co-founder of EAD and an equine specialist. “We want to continue to help them to find wholeness through activities with the horses.”
To help build financial support and to increase the awareness of what EAD does, this Saturday, EAD will host its second annual Barn Bash Charity Concert featuring live performances from Jamie Dionne and Bob Lacy. The June 23 event is from 6:30 — 9 p.m. at the ranch located at 3224 32nd St. SE, Kentwood. VanderBand said people are encourage to bring their own beverage and they will take care of the rest.
“This is a time when we open the gates to the community so they can tour our facility and learn about our mission,” VanderBand said, adding it helps to increase the awareness of EAD and give people a chance to have their questions answer about the program, the ranch, and the horses.
The event is by donation with a 100 percent of the proceeds going to EAD.
“The support raised will go to support the programs we offer to the community,” she said. “It will allow us to offer more services to two other agencies waiting for an opportunity to have the heard impact their lives.”
There is a lot of opportunity for EAD to do more within the community of Kentwood and beyond, but VanderBand is upfront in stating she does not want to start something unless it is funded. “I do not want to start a very successful program that people are impact by, to have the fear of it not being funded and having to cancel it,” she said.
The volunteers are in place as the program currently has six retired school teachers along with retired business owners and managers all with “a wish to teach the youth character and leadership,” she said.
For more about EAD programs and volunteer opportunities, visit http://eadgl.org or call 616-318-4919
