The Heart of A Mother's Rest:  Our "Home Base" guest house is  the cornerstone of our program.  It is designed to be a quiet, peaceful, secluded sanctuary, exclusively for mothers (and other caregivers) of children/adults with extra needs.   Run as a bed and breakfast type inn, it will be intimate, comfortable, and casual.   Multiple sessions each month will be scheduled exclusively for SN moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, etc.  My vision is to expand the house to include:  More bedrooms (2 ADA suites on the first floor)  3 additional bathrooms  Increased kitchen, dining and living space  Solarium  An exercise room   Full wrap around front and rear porch   Informal, rural farmhouse feel in decor  A vegetable garden   An innkeeper's cottage (salary for full-time live-in staff)  A barn down the hill for animals  Parking area

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Capital Campaign:  Purchase 1898 family farmhouse on 29 cul-de-sac acres in Afton, VA for use as a bed and breakfast type guest house, exclusively for mothers of children with special needs.  Currently 1877 sq feet, 3 beds 1 bath.  ($235k) Full renovation and expansion of house to include two ADA suites, 3 additional bathrooms, second story porch and full first story wrap porch.   Expanded, 5 beds 6 baths, 4500 sq feet finished living space.  Approx $250K.  

How You Can Help:  Charter Sponsor ($50,000+),  Major Donor ($25k-$49k),  Time Share Investment,  Legacy Giving, Individual Giving,  Donate Building Materials,  Donate Services, Volunteer,  Be a House Manager.  Have questions?  Contact innkeeper@amothersrest.org

Fellowship Friends B&B Network

Respite & Fellowship Visits:  AMR is building a network of existing bed and breakfast inns around the country to serve as official AMR Hosts.  This network will make the benefits of fellowship through AMR accessible to more families who may not be able to travel to our home base in Virginia.  

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How You Can Help:  As a B&B owner, participate in our national network by offering your inn at low or no cost for just one 3-5 day event per year.  Reciprocal advertising benefits.  As a volunteer, help us contact B&B owners and coordinate AMR events at those inns regionally.  As a donor, give to help moms with travel costs and other trip expenses.  

Child Care

Respite Through Child Care:  In partnership with Care.com, RestProgram.org, Jill's House, local ARC and Easter Seals presence, make experienced child care helpers available to families during the time a mom is visiting one of our inns.  

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How You Can Help:  Donate to our Child Care Fund designed to assist with the cost of local, experienced help.  Volunteer to help coordinate these partnerships and respite givers.  Volunteer to BE a caregiver while Mom is away.  

Summer Camp Grants

Special Needs Summer Camps:  Provide grant funding  towards the cost of day or sleep-away summer camp expenses for children AND adults with special needs. Summer camp can be such a meaningful experience for every child.  Whether it's day camp or sleep-away, kids learn important social and independence skills in this environment.  This is especially valuable for disabled children AND adults, as well as a time of respite for parents too.  Many summer camps already exist to serve these individuals. In partnership with various participating special needs summer camps around the country, offer discounted camper rates and grants towards the costs, to alleviate the financial limitations for these families. 

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How You Can Help:  Donate to our Summer Camp Grant Fund.  Join our national network of participating special needs summer camps.  Volunteer to help us coordinate our network of summer camps.  

Raising Appalachia

Material Aid for Local Virginia SN Families:  Provide assistance to local Albemarle/Nelson County families in need.  Resources for special needs families throughout Appalachia are sorely lacking. The strain of having to provide for a disabled child, in addition to low income stresses, can be devastating.  We hope to provide material aid to families with disabled or ill children in the Albemarle/Nelson County area.   Children with any medical or developmental disability eligible within these two counties.  Clothing, food, medication, financial help with utilities, home improvements, guidance for education, transportation to specialist and doctor appointments, social activities and ministry.  Private foundations can *do more, with less, for more families*. 

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How You Can Help:  Donate to our Raising Appalachia Fund.  Donate gently used clothing/shoes/coats, etc.   Donate a van to serve as an official AMR vehicle.  Offer your own transportation.  Partner with local builders to fund home improvements.  Provide guidance in educational planning and resources. Encourage your local church to serve!!

The Faris Family Freedom Park

Capital Campaign:  Build an accessible playground and community park in Batesville/ Afton, VA.   As moms, we want our disabled children to be integrated and independent.  A fully accessible playground means we don't have to hawk our children, knowing they are safe to navigate their own environment.  They are free to play appropriately with their peers.  This, in and of itself, offers a reprieve to our hearts and minds, even if just for a short time.  A  Mother's Rest seeks to identify and purchase a suitable, level property in the area and erect an accessible playground for community use.   Named in honor of the Faris Family of Batesville, VA. 

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How You Can Help:  Private family foundation and corporate grants.  Donate land for development.   Volunteer grant writing services.