Luis Urbina - November 2021
Started June 2018
Luis volunteers because he wants to help people have a better quality of life. “I find it very rewarding the work that I do at Wind Reach farm. You can see the impact on the adults that we help. I also like to belong to a community of positive minded people,” says Luis.
He started volunteering with special events (Christmas, Halloween, Royal Agricultural Fair, and others), as well as at the Stables with therapeutic riding lessons before Covid restrictions. He now support the Learning for Life program (adult day program), where he gives fitness training sessions to the participants. “Luis Urbina volunteered his time virtually with the Learning-4-Life (L4L) program during our ‘stay at home’ orders during the pandemic. Luis tuned in and taught our participants how important it is to stay fit, get lots of sleep and eat properly. Trainer Luis stretched, engaged in positive refection, exercised and encouraged us all to keep moving during our sessions with us! We are forever grateful for his generosity, kindness, patience, knowledge and guidance,” said Jennifer, L4L coordinator.
Luis brings a great attitude, smile, and a good pair of hands and legs to do the work that needs to be done. When he does the fitness training sessions, he brings a lot of positive energy, fun routines and advice for the participants to learn and follow. He loves the hands on work and the impact he sees on the people who benefit from it. Luis also enjoys being around the farm and the animals.
The amount of dedication and effort involved to run a volunteer organization and to support adults with disabilities is incredible. He has also learned some general horse care, like how to clean the stalls and paddocks, how to lead and sidewalk during lessons and how to better treat the animals.
There are lots of memorable stories from volunteering, but Luis remembers these two fondly. The first time that he helped to lead a horse in the arena in during a lesson, Luis could really see the impact that he had in helping the rider to be able to do that activity that otherwise he may not have been able to enjoy. That was a very rewarding and eye opening moment for Luis.
The other story was his first time holding a chicken in his arms. He wasn’t sure how to do it, but with guidance from Sara, Beyond the Farm Gate coordinator, he was successful and really enjoyed this great moment.
Luis enjoys helping others to have a better quality of life, and feels that volunteering is a good way to give back to the Universe the help that he has received from others.
Thank you, Luis, for all that you do at WindReach Farm.
One person CAN make a difference!