More than two dozen volunteers spent a recent morning helping a local nonprofit create a place for veterans to get away from the city and relax.
Hayden Homes partnered with the Friends of Disabled Veterans to work on a handful of projects at The Ranch, the Prosser-area veterans retreat the organization is in the process of building.
The Ranch is on 140-acres in rural Benton County, giving veterans a place to enjoy the outdoors with their families and rebuild relationships as they transition back into civilian life, said a Hayden Homes news release.
The veterans group is working to raise $270,000 to build more facilities and a parking lot. The site already has an archery range and restrooms, but they hope to add a lodge and facilities to support hunting, gardening and horse riding.
Hayden Homes donated $10,000 and more than 30 team members from southern Washington helped build walkways and sensory gardens. They also helped with maintenance on the archery range.
Sensory gardens are meant to engage all five senses and have a soothing effect for people managing sensory issues such as PTSD or autism, according to the news release.
The garden plants will have a variety of calming textures and smells, as well as crushed fine rocks to walk through for those with impaired vision.
It also will double as an opportunity for the veterans to garden as a family activity or therapeutic relief.
“We are so grateful to partner with Hayden Homes on these projects for The Ranch and our community of veterans and their loved ones,” said Khris Beyer, senior operations director for Friends of Disabled Veterans. “To know that we are in collaboration with a company that believes as much in our mission as we do — it gives all of us a boost of hope that we can continue to achieve our vision for this special place.”
Rees Wasney, regional vice president of Hayden Homes said the volunteer effort helps their employees fulfill the company’s mission to “Give As You Go” to help build a strong community and lead fulfilled lives.
“It is our honor and privilege to support Friends of Disabled Veterans, just as these servicemen and women have supported us,” Wasney said. “We are so proud to be a small part of bringing the vision of The Ranch to life, and hope that other community members will join us in helping make this happen.”
About The Ranch
The vision for The Ranch began in 2016 when the Friends of Disabled Veterans began discussing building a place for veterans to escape the city.
They officially opened in May 2023 with Congressman Dan Newhouse, R-Sunnyside, coming out for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The project started out because of the frustration of group founder Brian Moore, who saw a similar project fold and move out to Montana. He and some others were upset about the project leaving.
So Moore got together with a friend and they began raising money to secure the land.
While The Ranch primarily serves veterans in Benton and Franklin counties, it may be used by any veteran or organizations that wants to provide free services to veterans, Some of those groups include VFW’s, the American Legion and Therapeutic Riding of the Tri-Cities, or TROT.
The programs are all offered at no cost to the veterans or their families.
For more information, visit friendsofdisabledveterans.org
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