Trails of Purpose Seeks Public Support to Continue

The Virginia Beach-area nonprofit, which offers horse therapy and free counseling to first responders and veterans, is asking for community help to keep operating.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Philanthropy

A single chestnut horse stands in an open pasture edged by pine trees, with a weathered wooden fence and a distant gray barn under overcast skies. — Trails of Purpose is asking the public for donations to keep its horse therapy and free counseling programs for first responders and veterans running, at a cost of $30,000 a month. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Trails of Purpose, a non-profit offering horse therapy for first responders and military veterans, has requested public support to continue its operations. The organization costs $30,000 a month to run.

Why it matters

The appeal highlights the financial demands of providing free mental health services to first responders and veterans in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. Continued donations are needed to sustain both its counseling and equine therapy programs.

Trails of Purpose spends $30,000 each month to operate its farms and programs, and it has delivered more than 30,000 counseling hours since its founding in 2019. The report does not disclose how much of that monthly cost is currently covered by donations.

The players

Trails of Purpose

A non-profit organization based in Chesapeake, Virginia, that provides horse therapy and free mental health counseling to first responders and military veterans.

Kayla Fallon Smith

The founder of Trails of Purpose, who established the organization in 2019 to serve first responders and veterans through equine-assisted therapy.

The details

Founded in 2019 by Kayla Fallon Smith, Trails of Purpose offers horse therapy alongside free mental health counseling and psychotherapy for first responders and military veterans. The organization operates farms in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake and is requesting public support to continue its work.

2019: Trails of Purpose is founded by Kayla Fallon Smith.
November 11, 2026: The organization publishes its public request for continued support.

Philanthropy Context

Trails of Purpose combines equine-assisted therapy with free psychotherapy, an approach used by veteran-focused programs that rely heavily on donations to remain free to participants. Its request for public support reflects how such services depend on community giving rather than fees.

Residents who want to help can contribute financially to keep the free counseling and horse therapy programs running. Veterans and first responders in the area can access these services at no cost.

The takeaway

Sustaining free mental health services for first responders and veterans depends largely on community donations. Anyone able to give can help keep these programs available to those who serve.