Big Plans For a Holistic Healing Institute in Virginia

The Cobb Island Station in Virginia now has a new owner, which is the World Healing Institute. This organization is nonprofit and it helps kids who are dealing with physical and emotional changes in their lives. This also includes recovery from face surgeries as well as dealing with special needs. The institute purchased the property from The Nature Conservancy last year with a price tag of 4.1 million dollars.

The institute rented the property between the years of 2004 and 2006 and it recently acquired Annie Hess as the center coordinator. Annie's husband, Elvin, has also been hired on to be the environmental services coordinator. The couple chose to sell their Yellow Duck Bakery and relocate to this area to work at the institute.

"WHI believes that people, especially children, can develop more effectively using holistic approaches offered in natural environments," mentioned Alletta Bell, the founder and board president of the institute.

The executive director of the institute, Patrick Linton, recently mentioned that the organization will hopefully know what they will use the building for by next spring.

"We're sort of just re-gearing," Linton mentioned, adding that the institute could provide programs that help surgical healing and even some camps that will benefit kids who have special needs.

"That's still part of what we're thinking through," Linton stated. "We typically work with progressive ideas, working with different developments and healing techniques that are established but applying them in creative and beneficial ways to children."

The institute's web site mentioned that the group provides "holistic healing opportunities in beautiful natural environments" for kids by working in part with other medical institutions, healing experts and agencies that specialize in humanitarian aid.