SUMTER, S.C. — Strawberry picking and petting goats is how kids from Turbeville Children's Home are getting community support.
"Some of them have never experienced anything like this," the home's Executive Director Tim Moore says. "I’ve seen a lot of smiles."
Turbeville Children’s Home provides safe housing and care for kids who cant live with their parents. Moore has watched as the children he’s helping experience farm life during a free field trip to Dorr Farms.
"Some kids are inner-city kids. They’ve never had exposure to a farm atmosphere," Moore explains. "Some of them have seen a goat for the first time today, got to touch a horse, pet a horse and see how plants and vegetables are grown."
Marie Dorr with the farm says this is the case for many kids who come out see the animals, insects and the crops.
"A lot of kids don’t know. They have no clue on anything about framing, where their food comes or anything," Dorr shares. "So that’s basically, I’m just taking them here, showing them my experience, what I do on a daily basis."
It’s why she offers field trips like the one for the children’s home, which was sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police, a nonprofit that connects law enforcement with the community.
"We try to build leadership in those younger generations," local Lodge President Larry Wix says. "Some of them have shown a real strong interest in coming in to law enforcement so it seemed like a good plan for us to build that bridge with some community."
Bridging the community together, while supporting local farmers.
"With a chain store, you don’t know where that money is going. To where if you come out here and support us, buy from us, you know you’re getting good quality food, fresh food," Dorr details. "We pick it straight off the field straight to the store right here and you know you’re supporting us."
Dorr Farms hosts field trips throughout the year, and it’s open for community members to visit and learn more about farming and fresh produce
"You really can’t put a price tag on that because kids just come out here. To sit here and watch them run and play and ask questions," Dorr says. "You can sit here and see their little faces just soaking it in. It’s amazing."