Volunteer Spotlight: Regina & Don Carpenter
At Kindle Hill Foundation, our volunteers are the heart of everything we do. Through this Volunteer Spotlight series, we are honored to celebrate the individuals whose compassion, dedication, and generosity help make our mission possible each and every day. This month, we are proud to shine the spotlight on Regina and Don Carpenter, whose warmth and commitment have become a treasured part of our barn community.
Regina and Don first discovered Kindle Hill Foundation while simply driving past the property. Curious to learn more, they did a quick search and immediately felt connected to the mission. “We read about their mission, and it really resonated with our thoughts about supporting individuals on their mental health journey through a therapeutic process that includes equine therapy,” they shared.
After retiring, the couple was looking for a meaningful way to stay active and give back to their community. “We were looking for a way to serve our community and stay active as we got older,” they explained. Their lifelong love of horses made Kindle Hill a natural fit. Experienced riders themselves, Regina and Don now spend much of their volunteer time working in the barn, caring for Kindle Hill’s equines and helping ensure the animals are healthy, safe, and thriving.
Their passion for service extends far beyond volunteering. Regina and Don are proud parents of two adult children and loving grandparents who cherish time spent attending their grandson’s competitions and musical events. They also enjoy traveling to London to visit their son and daughter-in-law, along with quieter moments spent gardening, reading, and caring for their own horse and dog.
At the core of everything they do is a shared belief that “our lives should be one of service, not just in retirement, but a lifelong passion.” That spirit of gratitude and compassion is felt by everyone around them.
One of the aspects of Kindle Hill’s mission that resonates most deeply with Regina and Don is the healing connection between humans and horses. “We’ve always felt a sense of calm and peace when we’re with our horses, and we’ve always called it our happy place,” they said. Through their time at the foundation, they have witnessed countless meaningful moments of healing between clients, therapists, and equines.
When asked about the most rewarding part of their experience, their answer reflected the same humility and teamwork they bring to every volunteer shift: “Working with our barn crew community to ensure these amazing animals are healthy, safe, and thriving.”
Regina and Don’s kindness, positivity, and unwavering dedication embody the very spirit of Kindle Hill Foundation. We are deeply grateful for the joy they bring to our community and the impact they continue to make in the lives of both people and horses alike.