The Value of Community
At CORRAL, community means more than just being together. It means showing up for one another, no matter the circumstances. It’s the moments of care, the shared burdens, and the small acts that remind our teens they are not alone.
Our work is deeply rooted in the belief that no one heals or grows alone. The reason we serve our teens is because we know that healing takes a village: one that listens, lifts, and loves without judgment.
What Community Looks Like at CORRAL
When times are tough, our community steps in. Rather than out of obligation, they do this out of compassion. We’ve seen:
- Teens carpool with one another so working parents can rest a little easier.
- Families notice when another is struggling financially and respond with clothing donations, shared meals, or extra resources.
- Volunteers preparing and freezing meals so our teens can have warm dinners during the week.
- Volunteers collecting coats and gloves to keep our girls warm through winter.
- Staff members doing a teen’s hair to help her feel confident and avoid bullying.
- Staff driving teens home when parents face car troubles.
Each act, big or small, is a reminder that community isn’t built overnight; it’s built through consistent care and genuine connection.
The Challenges We Face
Right now, many families are feeling the weight of limited access to essential resources. With the recent government shutdown, that strain has only deepened.
Some of our teens have even lost access to their outside therapists, a critical part of emotional support. Even in these moments of uncertainty, CORRAL’s commitment remains the same: to ensure every teen feels supported, seen, and cared for.
How Our Community Shows Up
Our staff continues to serve our teens through every challenge. They provide stability and encouragement when the world feels unpredictable, and we’re not alone in that work.
Community partners, volunteers, and donors rally alongside us, consistently offering resources, expertise, and time to help carry the load. Together, we form a network of care that extends far beyond our farms.
Thank you to a few of our community partners: Interfaith Food Shuttle, Haven House, Carolina Outreach, Clancy and Theys, St. Francis Assisi, Literacy and Community Initiative, and many more!
Relationship-First & Community
One of our volunteers recently shared that she keeps coming back to CORRAL because she feels seen. It’s not about recognition, but about connection. She loves witnessing the impact of her time and appreciates being invited to speak into the work truly.
Another parent, a single mom, told us that she’s always struggled to ask for help. She felt pressure to “wear the cape,” to handle everything on her own. But at CORRAL, she said she finally feels safe being transparent and vulnerable because she knows she’ll be met with empathy, not judgment.
These stories are what make our community strong. They remind us that when relationships and community come first, transformation follows.
How You Can Help
Our community thrives when everyone joins together. You can help us during this upcoming season by supporting our Amazon Wishlist. Every item directly supports our teens at the farm, especially this winter.
You can also visit our website at corralriding.org/give to make a recurring gift: recurring gifts help us sustain our mission and provide us with consistent, predictable income. We encourage you to share this information with your own community. Every conversation helps build the kind of support system our teens and staff can depend on.
To our CORRAL community — thank you. Your compassion and commitment sustain our mission and make our work possible. You remind us every day that healing happens in community, and we are building a foundation for the future.
Together, we’re not only changing lives but also changing what community looks like.
