1. Is there a particular story you could share that shows the impact of your work?

One of the things that has stayed with me throughout my time with the Therapy Dog Program is that the impact of a visit rarely ends with the visit itself.

Whether we’re in a school, a healthcare setting, a seniors’ residence, a library, or a community event, therapy dogs have an incredible ability to create a moment of connection. They break down barriers, lower anxiety, and invite people to engage in ways they may not have otherwise.

I’ve heard countless stories from our volunteers about students who felt comfortable attending school because they knew a therapy dog would be there, seniors who began sharing stories and connecting with others after meeting a therapy dog, and individuals navigating health challenges who found comfort and motivation to engage with their care team following a visit.

What makes therapy dogs so special is that they open hearts. They create a sense of safety and trust that can help people engage more deeply with the supports around them, whether that’s a teacher, recreation therapist, healthcare provider, family member, or friend.

The immediate benefits are easy to see: smiles, conversations, laughter, and calmer moods. But what inspires me most is knowing that these moments often lead to something bigger. They help people feel seen, valued, and connected, and those feelings are fundamental to both individual wellbeing and community resilience.

2. What is one specific thing that donations from the Blue Barn Community Cares Society help make possible?

Donations help make connection possible.

We know that positive social connection is one of the strongest protective factors for mental health and wellbeing, yet many people are experiencing increased isolation, stress, and uncertainty in their daily lives. The Therapy Dog Program creates opportunities for meaningful, relationship-based interactions that help people feel welcomed, supported, and connected to their communities.

Funding helps us recruit, screen, train, and support volunteer therapy dog teams so they can visit schools, healthcare facilities, community organizations, seniors’ residences, and other settings throughout British Columbia and Yukon.

At its heart, every donation helps create moments that strengthen resilience, foster belonging, and remind people that they matter.

3. If someone purchases a $20 Blue Barn Fundraising Calendar, what would you most want them to know their purchase helps support?

I would want them to know that their purchase is helping create the kinds of connections that make communities stronger.

Research tells us that interacting with therapy animals can reduce stress and support psychological wellbeing. We often talk about outcomes like reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure, or decreased cortisol levels, and those benefits are certainly important. But I believe the greatest impact comes from something even more fundamental: connection.

A therapy dog creates a unique opportunity for a person to feel welcomed without judgment, to start a conversation, share a memory, smile, or simply experience a moment of comfort. Those interactions may seem small, but they often become the foundation for greater engagement, improved mood, increased confidence, and stronger relationships with others.

Every calendar purchased helps support a program that brings those moments of connection into communities across British Columbia and Yukon. It’s an investment in resilience, belonging, and the simple but powerful idea that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and supported.