Road To Independence's Farm and Aurora Bakery 501(c)3 Programs

  In 2019, community  support enabled us to directly impact the lives of 161 different individuals with mental and physical challenges through our programs based at the farm in Goshen and at Aurora Bakery in Newport. Road To Independence serves a population of individuals who are mostly unable to advocate for themselves and we feel it is up to concerned individuals and groups to assist as they can. As we plan for our 4Annual Fundraiser on March 28, 2020 at Colby-Sawyer College with Nick’s Other Band, we hope that you are again able to join us for this event. 

We continue to work to improve the limited options for individuals with intellectual and physical challenges in our community. Many families/mentors and school administrators are working to create rewarding community opportunities. Our Farm and Aurora bakery programs offer a chance to explore an entirely new experience in a supportive environment. Whether it is learning chopping, mixing or customer service skills at Aurora Bakery or equine handling or horticultural skills at the farm, RTI provides the chance to further explore an area of interest while improving self-confidence in a community environment. 

Sometimes our rewards come in unexpected ways!  We have seen a participant who struggles to remember routine activities, remember the donkey harness sequence (not an easy task) and then independently drive the donkey cart.  We have been able to partner with a homemade dog bone business and offer 2 hours   of paid employment to one of our Aurora Bakery participants. These are simple but life changing events and opportunities.