MELROSE, FL (352today.com) – After being kicked in the head by a horse in the Army National Guard in the late 1980s, Daniel DiMarco had to reevaluate his life. The accident led to him receiving a metal plate in his head and, shortly after, a move to Florida where he found himself working in the RV industry.
“I went through my first recession and realized that I didn’t have as much money as I thought,” DiMarco said. “It just made me refocus on life.”
DiMarco says that he has always donated to veterans organizations. “You know, I had a lot of brothers and sisters that were still over there fighting,” he said.
Post-recession, life took a sharp turn inward. DiMarco says he used this period of introspection to consider what truly meant the most to him.
A former military man himself, supporting veterans had always been close to his heart.
While watching a television show that helped people realize their dreams, DiMarco says a lightbulb went off.
“I’m an avid outdoorsman and I grew up riding horses and training,” he shared. He says he realized that what helps him relax may also help other veterans.
“It was time to make this therapy accessible to our veterans,” he said. “And that’s how it all began.”
DiMarco says that Soldiers Freedom Outdoors started out modestly with two fifth wheel campers on a seven-acre plot of land.
“We would bring the veterans directly to the house from where we would arrange hunting and fishing trips around Hawthorne and Cedar Key,” he explained. “The interactions with my three horses at the house were the simple beginnings of what would eventually become our equine therapy.”
With help from a close friend in Wauchula, DiMarco expanded operations onto a 200-acre farm. Growth wasn’t without its challenges, he remembers.
“We needed to constantly raise funds, find corporate sponsors, and keep our 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.” He says that it is worth it, though, because it is rewarding to have veterans and their families at Camp Freedom for a four-day retreat or for one of the many programs.
Camp Freedom is an expansive 300-acre ranch in Melrose.
“Here, our veterans engage in a variety of programs conducted in a dedicated ranch house overlooking an 18-acre lake,” DiMarco said. From horse riding to grooming to paddling, fishing, and even shooting, there are plenty of opportunities for rejuvenation. “Our programs even include blacksmithing courses that help veterans forge their own knives and learn a new trade—an activity that has become a rewarding new hobby for many of them,” said DiMarco.
“We’re not limited to just those programs,” he added. Camp Freedom offers a beekeeping class that brings therapy to those involved in its unique way. “We’re potentially helping veterans set up their own beehives free of charge to continue beekeeping.”
They also organize a monthly Horse Riding 101 program for military children, tractor hayrides, and group events.
DiMarco admits running these programs can sometimes be taxing.
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“We are consistently in need of 15 and 16-inch saddles for our equine programs and food for the horses. For those considering supporting our cause, every bit of help, whether in the form of donating saddles, hay, or becoming a corporate sponsor, goes a long way in enabling us to serve our veterans better,” said DiMarco who assures every penny goes directly into enhancing the camp’s programs and services for the veterans.
Soldiers Freedom Outdoors is always looking for new ways to better serve veterans, raise funds, and expand its programs.
DiMarco believes there’s a program to suit every veteran who comes to Camp Freedom. From blacksmithing to beekeeping to equine therapy, DiMarco says the mission of Soldiers Freedom Outdoors is to address the challenges of veterans by combining nature with activities that promote peace, mental health, and positive well-being.
If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation to Soldiers Freedom Outdoors, click here. They also welcome volunteers. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, click here.