It’s not too often that you find a job that makes you feel like you're living your dream, but for Shelley Becker, that’s exactly how she feels as director at LoveWay, an equine-assisted service organization.
Though she has always had a heart focused on charity, Becker didn’t originally see herself working at a non-profit like LoveWay. After graduating from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design, the Elkhart native began her professional career in print advertising.
After getting married and having two children, now 19 and 21, Becker decided she needed to step away from the advertising industry to become a stay-at-home mom to better care for her children. However, a few years after her youngest child was born, she felt compelled to go out and give back to the community.
“I really felt a strong pull within me to do something outside of the home that was giving back,” Becker said. “I saw an ad in the newspaper that LoveWay needed volunteers. I was a little hesitant because I had absolutely no horse experience, and I also had no experience with individuals with disabilities.”
Despite the lack of experience, Becker fell in love with LoveWay’s mission and the community surrounding it. She first began simply cleaning out barns before quickly being thrust into being a side walker next to the horses, an area in which she thrived. In fact, during her first sidewalking session, she was able to witness a non-verbal child speak their first words on the back of a horse.
“That is when the Lord started really opening my eyes to what was happening here,” Becker said. “It was so much bigger than riding a horse.”
After wearing many different hats including being an instructor, marketer, grant writer, and fundraiser for LoveWay, Becker was promoted to director in January of 2018, a position that felt like a dream come true.
For Becker, it’s all about making a difference in the lives of the children she serves and showing them that they can do things that they otherwise didn’t think that they could do.
“It’s about the organic experience of a child having an adult meet them every week and be their person, basically be their cheerleader and instill confidence in them,” Becker said. “Let them know, ‘I believe in you. You can do this.’ We have an opportunity as volunteers to open their eyes to so many new possibilities, and being a part of that, to me, was exciting.”
When she’s not serving at LoveWay, the Elkhart native carries her love of animals over to her home in Bristol, Indiana. Owning a small farm with her husband, she owns her “own little herd” of horses, dogs, and cats. As an avid reader and pickleball player, Becker and her husband always try to be out in nature.
“I’m a huge outdoorsman,” Becker said. “I like just about anything that I can do outdoors and working with my hands, gardening, and doing things of that nature.”
Ultimately, Becker is a woman who carries her love of animals, the community, and those with disabilities with her wherever she goes. Between her selfless attitude, positive spirit, and focus on faith, she has made a difference in the lives of the hundreds of children she’s served throughout her time at LoveWay. To learn more about LoveWay, its mission, and volunteer opportunities, visit its website here.