WILLMAR — Residents of Rice Care Center and Therapy Suites in Willmar visited with horses through the window Wednesday afternoon. Staff members wanted to bring cheer to the residents since the care facility is not allowing visitors at this time to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Kelly Chaput, a coordinator at Rice Care Center, called up her friend Carrie Danielson and asked to bring her horses out to visit the residents. Danielson and her son Connor Danielson, 15, hauled their horses from Atwater to the care center Wednesday.
The mother-son duo has been transporting their horses to other senior care and adult living communities in the area as well.
"The residents were just ecstatic," said Chaput. "It was such a fun day. It was very heartfelt."
1/6: Resident Dan Giese, left, with staff member Amanda Thorson, Director of Nursing, hold up their hands to the window as Connor Danielson, 15, greets them with his horse Wednesday at Rice Care Center and Therapy Suites in Willmar. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
2/6: A resident watches as horses are directed around Rice Care Center in Willmar to bring some cheer to the residents Wednesday afternoon. Staff members wanted to bring cheer to the residents since the care facility is not allowing visitors at this time to slow the spread of COVID-19. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
3/6: Phyllis Haugen reaches out to the horse that visits her window Wednesday at Rice Care Center and Therapy Suites in Willmar. Staff members wanted to bring cheer to the residents since the care facility is not allowing visitors at this time to slow the spread of COVID-19. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
4/6: Horses peer into a window Wednesday at Rice Care Center and Therapy Suites in Willmar. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
5/6: Resident Wayne Larson reaches to stroke a horse outside Wednesday at Rice Care Center and Therapy Suites in Willmar. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
6/6: Horses visit residents at Rice Care Center in Willmar to bring some cheer to Wednesday afternoon. Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune
Erica Dischino is a photojournalist for the West Central Tribune and Forum News Service. She grew up in northern New Jersey and has lived in the Midwest since 2017. She enjoys photographing the stories of west central Minnesota from county fairs, parades and pandemics. Feel free to contact her at edischino@wctrib.com or 320-894-8865 with your best photo ideas.
