Animals as Natural Therapy to host annual lunch fundraiser

Get a chance to pet a goat and donate to youth and veteran mental health at Animals as Natural Therapy’s Healing Hearts Lunch.

Nonprofit organization Animals as Natural Therapy (ANT) is hosting its annual Healing Hearts Lunch 12-1 p.m. Friday, October 7 at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal. The event will raise scholarship funds for the organization’s youth and veteran mental health programs. It will also feature heartwarming stories and an opportunity to meet therapy animals in person, ANT director of development Jessie Pemble wrote in a September 8 press release.

ANT serves youth and veterans in northwest Washington through animal-guided mental health programs. Services include group and individual equine therapy sessions, school programs and mobile therapy animal visits. All programs are offered on a sliding fee scale so that financial ability is never a barrier to mental health care. ANT’s farm in north Bellingham is home to rescued and adopted horses, goats, rabbits, chickens and dogs.

A suggested $10 admission at the door includes a light vegetarian lunch and beverages. 

Detec Systems, manufacturer and waterproofing testing equipment provider, and Sanitary Service Company, Whatcom County’s largest recycling and garbage collector, is sponsoring the lunch. For more information or to register, go to animalsasnaturaltherapy.org/healinghearts.