The PEACH Pit
Horses helping heal your heart and mind. Come join us at the barn.
Saving the world with masks
The PEACH Pit recently partnered with Sew Blessed Alterations to provide face masks for employees at the Fort Valley Post Office.
Kandace Marie Hodge, owner of Sew Blessed Alterations who works at The PEACH PIT, came up with the idea. She provided the fabric and other supplies, and The PEACH Pit provided volunteer labor, better known as grandchildren. The work was done at Smiley’s Flea Market in Macon, where Kandace Marie’s shop is housed. The flea market was closed, which allowed the team to maintain a safe distance from others.
The work entitled ironing interfacing onto fabric, cutting and pinning patterns, cutting fabric, stitching masks, ironing mask seams and inserting elastic.
So far, the postal workers have received 30 of the 52 masks needed to protect them. The remainder were awaiting delivery.
Navigating COVID-19 together
Understandably, the novel coronavirus pandemic has many people concerned. As we all navigate the impact of COVID-19, we’ve made some decisions about events at The PEACH Pit to keep our visitors, therapists and clients safe.
We’re postponing the Horsepower and Heroes Retreat, scheduled for May 1-3; we’ll post here when we set the new dates for the retreat.
We’re also suspending group volunteer activities. We will continue to accept individual volunteers, and we’ll continue to see clients since the majority of our sessions are outdoors in open-air settings that maintain a safe distance from others.
Meanwhile, here are a few tips to help you protect yourself physically and emotionally:
- Limit your intake of media. Repeated exposure to the same stressful event can exacerbate your stress response. It’s good to stay in the know, but consider limiting your ingestion of news media, especially if you are starting to feel overwhelmed.
- Take care of your body. Drink lots of water, eat healthy and continue with your normal exercise routine.
- Make time to relax. With the news of any large scale adverse event, there is an inherent sense of urgency. We can get wrapped up the energy of outside actors (newscasters, politicians, fundraisers, etc.). Constant vigilance is not good for your body. To counteract it, use your relaxation coping skills like breathing, journaling or listening to music.
- Talk about it. Connect with others about how you’re feeling and what concerns you have. Connect with them about other things, too. There’s no reason to stop living your life.
- Take appropriate precautions to keep yourself healthy. Follow the CDC guidelines for prevention: Wash your hands regularly, avoid touching your face and avoid contact with people known to be sick.
If you find that you are having a difficult time coping or that you are feeling overwhelmed, please reach out. Our counseling sessions can help, and you’ll be able to maintain a safe social distance, as well.
POSTPONED: Get your tickets for the Loving Life Benefit Concert
Tickets now are on sale for the inaugural Loving Life Benefit Concert featuring Scott Helmer, with a special appearance by former Miss America Betty Cantrell Maxwell.
Because of the odd times we’re living in, we’ve rescheduled the concert for *April 10, 2021. The concert will help The PEACH Pit reach more Veterans and first responders in an effort to save lives. Specifically, the concert will help us reach more women Veterans, who among the 22 Veterans who commit suicide daily; and first responders, who, sadly, die by their own hands more than they die otherwise.
Scott is a musician, songwriter and overall great performer. And in 2008, he was seconds away from committing suicide. Now, he travels the country spreading the joy of living.
Betty is a motivational speaker, singer, actress, model, author, Miss Georgia 2015, Miss America 2016. She’s from Middle Georgia and a strong advocate for suicide prevention and mental health treatment.
Tickets range from $10 to $100. This concert is likely to sell out, so don’t delay. Get your tickets today.
*Note that we rescheduled the concert from Aug. 1 to maximize the time for the world to recover from COVID-19.
New save the date: Loving Life Benefit Concert April 10
The *April 10, 2021, concert features Scott Helmer, a musician, songwriter and overall great performer. And in 2008, he was seconds away from committing suicide.
Buying a ticket will help The PEACH Pit do its part to reduce Veteran and first responder suicides. Plus, you’ll hear great music.
*Note that we rescheduled the concert from Aug. 1 to maximize the time for the world to recover from COVID-19.
Manure happens: Procrastinate no more
Well, federal friends, today is officially the last day of the Combined Federal Campaign.
You’ve wanted to give and have kept putting it off because stuff kept getting in the way. Manure happens.
Today is the day to give to The PEACH Pit, CFC No. 27220. The nonprofit provides affordable mental health care to all clients, whether children, families, Veterans or active duty military. Our horses help humans find solutions to their problems.
Whether you’re a current or retired federal employee, you can give.
Oh, wait, today is Sunday, and you’re not at work. No excuse. If you have access to the Internet, you can give at https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome. Once online, search for The PEACH Pit or our CFC number: 27220.
Your donation ensures that clients who struggle to get through their stuff don’t further have to struggle with paying to receive help. Your donation helps eliminate that financial strain.
So far, the amount of pledges for the 2019 campaign has increased by 153 percent, and the number of donors has increased 65 percent over the 2018 campaign. For a small nonprofit, that’s huge.
Give. Please. And share this post with friends. Because manure happens to us all, and some of us need help to get unstuck.
Even if you’re not a federal employee, you can donate.
How can I donate?
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