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For anyone who has watched the news in the past five to 10 years, it would seem as though any faith in humanity was gone. From terrorist attacks to thoughtless violence to heartless burglaries and vandalism, it is safe to say it is a dangerous and often scary world out there.

It is not often that a writer is given an assignment that restores all that is lost, but after touring Horizons Residential Care Center (HRCC) as part of this article, this writer can say her faith in humanity and in the goodness in people has truly been restored.

Located on 26 acres in Rural Hall, NC, at the site of the former Memorial Industrial School, HRCC is technically defined as a non-profit, private program that provides comprehensive interdisciplinary services for persons with developmental disabilities. It is more accurately described as a place where the most deserving and often forgotten people can go to be treated with respect and given a life they could not have anywhere else. “It feels like home, not an institution,” said David Adams, Chief Executive Officer of HRCC. “There are seven facilities like this in North Carolina, and Horizons serves people throughout the state.”

Opened in 1973, HRCC is more than a care center for those with severe, mentally debilitating diseases. It focuses on giving its residents a life and allowing them to participate in activities and instruction most would deem impossible. “We have an outdoor playground specifically designed for children in wheel chairs,” said Adams. “Everything is on their level and designed to stimulate their senses. We have animals occasionally that the children can interact with, like rabbits, and they really love it out here.”

Read more on page 14 in the September Issue of FF Magazine