LOCAL NONPROFIT PAIRS DOGS WITH MILITARY VETERANS TO OFFER SUPPORT & COMPANIONSHIP
The Barber’s Chair
Community, Cancer & The Heart Of Garage 17
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HOUNDS FOR HEROES
LOCAL NONPROFIT PAIRS DOGS WITH MILITARY VETERANS TO OFFER SUPPORT & COMPANIONSHIP
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Jake Skillett, owner of VonBernd K9 Training Center in Brownsburg, says dog training has taken him all over the world. He has trained everything from the average household pet to explosive-detection dogs for private security.
He serves as head trainer for the nonprofit Mission K9 Warrior, providing trained dogs to veterans with PTSD at no charge, and he loves helping those in need through the therapeutic animals he trains.
However, Skillett saw a gap in the good work many nonprofits provide and felt led to do something about it.
“Many organizations only serve combat veterans, and several apply each year who are first responders, victims of sexual assault and more,” Skillett says. “I wanted to help even more folks, so we created Hounds for Heroes.”
The first official year of the nonprofit was
2025. The process can be lengthy, but already, Skillett says he can see the impact they are making.
Far too often, organizations that provide service dogs simply train them, drop them off with the recipient and walk away. Skillett wanted to improve that process.
“I test the dog to see if it has what it takes. I do temperament testing, some socialization
and basic skills like seeing how they do on a staircase or teaching them to sit or walk on a leash, but they are not done at that point,” Skillett says.
From there, the dog owner or handler comes in for training with Skillett once per week, and both the handler and the dog work on bonding, skills and, eventually, certification.
“The problem we find is the person has zero confidence in handling the dog,” Skillett says. “They don’t want to ask for help, and things get out of control when the dog becomes more of a hindrance than a help. In this program, they are fully involved with the training, have access to me at any time, and it doesn’t cost them anything.”
Perhaps more importantly, each dog is trained
specifically for its handler.
For example, if a person suffers from PTSD and begins going into an episode, they might tap their foot, crack their knuckles or have another tell. The dog can be trained to recognize those symptoms and will automatically jump up and start licking their handler’s face to distract and redirect.
“We can teach the dog to get really in tune with that person, and before the foot tapping even begins, a lot of times the dog senses it,” Skillett says. “Every person is different and every dog is different. Every story is different; every trauma is different. It’s never one size fits all.”
Depending on the dog’s age, training can take four to eight months. Skillett and his nonprofit board certify the handler, and each year they return for recertification.
Outside of food and veterinary care, the recipient does not pay a penny. Even lifetime
training for the dog and annual recertification are covered by the nonprofit.
As of January 2026, Hounds for Heroes has placed two dogs with their handlers, and watching the two come together, Skillett says, is special.
“I’ve been blessed to be in all sorts of experiences and places, but this is one of the most powerful moments you can be a part of,” Skillett says. “You can see hope — an excuse to get out of bed in the morning. Wives tell me, ‘He smiles now,’ and daughters talk about getting their daddy back. Sometimes they don’t even realize the extent to which a veteran or first responder is suffering until they get connected with their dog.”
Approximately 57 veterans and first responders die by suicide each day in the United States, nearly 21,000 per year, a
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number that does not include the ripple effect of the many lives impacted by each loss.
Programs like Hounds for Heroes reduce suicide rates to less than 1 percent, reinforcing Skillett’s belief that he is doing the right thing.
However, Hounds for Heroes almost did not happen.
“It can get really expensive. Service dogs run around $20,000 and can go all the way up to $90,000,” Skillett says. “When we met our first recipient, there were only a few hundred dollars in our bank account. My wife made a reel of the veteran being introduced to his German shorthaired pointer, and the next day there was a check in the mail for $5,000.”
Other friends and acquaintances who had expressed interest in supporting the cause began calling and donating thousands of dollars.
Within three weeks, Hounds for Heroes went from a few hundred dollars to $90,000.
“I feel like it’s a calling from God. We’re going to keep our faith and the money will come,” Skillett says. “We still have more applicants than money, but it will come.”
One of Skillett’s favorite stories comes from a Mission K9 Warrior benefit event, where he spoke to a room of 300 people about the new nonprofit and its goals for the future.
He and the board also announced and awarded their first certification to the organization’s first veteran recipient that evening.
“He came up on stage with his dog, and we presented the certification to him,” Skillett
says. “A line formed of people who just wanted to shake his hand. They thanked him for his service and says, ‘Welcome home.’ I asked him if he ever thought he’d see something like this, and he says, ‘Never in my wildest dreams. This has been the best year of my life since receiving my dog.’”
Hounds for Heroes is always in need of financial support, but Skillett says simply spreading the word is also valuable.
“We want people to know that we care about and are thankful for their service and that there is hope,” Skillett says. “I’m interested in speaking at any event and sharing some of the inspirational stories I’ve seen so far. Follow us on social media, share our posts and keep talking about it.”
Skillett has heard many sad stories, too, but watches with anticipation each time a handler meets a new best friend.
“Dogs don’t judge. They take you exactly as
you are,” Skillett says. “If you feed them, love them and treat them right, they don’t care about the rest.”
For more information, visit houndsforheroes.net.
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THE BARBER’S CHAIR
COMMUNITY, CANCER & THE HEART OF GARAGE 17
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Freddy Niblack has been a barber for more than 30 years and opened his own shop, Garage 17 Barbershop in Brownsburg, in the spring of 2023.
He quickly saw a need in the community and began offering a specific day once per month to provide free haircuts for children and adults with special needs.
However, just a year later, as his business was getting off the ground, Niblack began feeling sick.
In April 2024, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer often successfully treated but one that can potentially spread, leading to much lower success rates.
At the time, Niblack didn’t tell anyone.
He had to work. He didn’t want to worry “his kids,” as he calls the youth with special needs who frequent the shop. And after all, doctors were positive — until they weren’t.
In July 2024, Niblack was in so much pain he canceled his appointments and called his doctor. He went to the emergency room and was in surgery within the hour.
“They had to do an emergency colostomy and wanted to start chemo immediately,” Niblack says. “It was just like, we’re going to do our best to save your life, but do you have
EST.
2023
Freddy returning to shop for the 1st time after his hospital stay
Freddy receiving a proclamation from the Town of Brownsburg for his service to the community
your end-of-life affairs in order? It was panic mode, and the journey began.”
Niblack called in reinforcements. He had previously worked for and befriended Lainey Bibler, owner of Dappered Man, and Gina Warren, owner of Rock Hurst Barber Shop, both of Brownsburg.
Bibler worked half days at her own shop and then half days at Garage 17. Warren filled in on days Bibler was unavailable.
“Lainey and Gina tag-teamed it for six or seven months. I had a 22-year-old guy, Kaleb Gentry, just out of school, and he had the shop thrown in his lap,” Niblack says. “Kaleb was the first barber I hired as a shop manager, and he made sure everything was clean and the bills were taken care of.”
In fact, Gentry supported him throughout his journey and even did things Niblack was unaware of until he returned to the shop.
“Kaleb took me to two surgeries, he brought lunch many times, and he took money out of his own pocket to purchase items needed for the shop,” Niblack says. “He said, ‘The shop needed it, and I’m part of the shop.’ I will never forget that.”
In October of that same year, Niblack said things were getting worse. Chemo wasn’t working. He was doing radiation five days per week, and doctors suggested he begin expensive immunotherapy treatments. By the day before Thanksgiving, Niblack was losing hope. He was advised to make his final plans.
From there, things were a whirlwind.
Stuck in a bed, in incredible pain and unable to work, Niblack thought his life was over until a young man, Leland Riggs — country musician Levi Riggs’ son — needed a haircut for his birthday.
“I saw tears running down Leland’s face and how hurt he was, and something inside of me just snapped. I was so, so
“CANCER TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD WORKED FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE KIDS I HAD SAVED WERE NOW SAVING ME. IT VALIDATES WHAT YOU DO AND WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT THESE FAMILIES MEAN TO ME. MY SHOP WOULDN’T BE STANDING IF IT WASN’T FOR ALL OF THESE PEOPLE. THAT LITTLE GARAGE MIGHT NOT MEAN ANYTHING TO ANYONE ELSE, BUT TO ME AND TO BROWNSBURG — IT’S HOME.”
- FREDDY NIBLACK
Freddy with his mom in the hospital
tired, but I wasn’t going to leave my kids,” Niblack says. “Leland said, ‘God is going to fix you.’”
He got up and cut Leland’s hair and later recalls Levi Riggs sitting in the barber’s chair during the holidays of 2024, with little Leland eating a cheeseburger nearby. Levi began singing Christmas songs, a moment Niblack says he will never forget.
“I wasn’t feeling Christmas right then,” Niblack says. “I wasn’t feeling anything. There has to be a better word than ‘hope,’ but I just knew we were going to do this.” Leland was right.
In December 2024, after moving forward with immunotherapy, Niblack underwent another exam to evaluate his progress.
Miraculously, doctors told him the tumors were gone. He was in remission.
“I told them I wanted the colostomy reversed right away. I wanted my life back, and I wanted to get back to my [barber] chair,” Niblack says.
It took time to regain his strength, and Niblack began working a few hours per day. He spent 2025 in recovery mode but, over time, made his way back to where he was meant to be — at Garage 17.
Looking back, Niblack said there were so many people — an entire community — that rallied around him.
“Ben Lacey, Brownsburg Town Council president, and Adam Brauman are my landlords, and from the beginning they made it very clear they would do whatever I needed,” Niblack says. “They reduced my shop rent. They offered to help in any way they could. At no point
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did they say, ‘We’re going to have to shut this down.’”
“Jordan McHugh, owner of Manscapes in Brownsburg, did a car show fundraiser for me and handed me two checks — one from the car show and another from a special she did at the shop where part of the proceeds went to me,” he says. “Jordan, Lainey and Gina — these ladies are my competition, and now they are my backbone.”
The Brownsburg Town Council issued a proclamation for Niblack and waived town fees at a local park for a large fundraiser held in support of him.
Rose Promotions in Brownsburg made T-shirts and donated the proceeds to Niblack.
The American Legion Post 331 donated funds to ensure youth with special needs continued receiving free haircuts, and
Mandy Johnson of Mandy’s Ice Cream continued dropping off gift cards for their post-appointment reward. “Kids with special needs thrive on consistency, and after they get their haircut at Garage 17, they go down to Mandy’s and get a free ice cream,” Niblack says. “Even though I wasn’t there, she kept dropping off gift cards for the kids. Mandy has to pay for that ice cream. She’s a small business owner, too. It was like the town wanted to continue what I started, and an entire community wrapped their arms around me and didn’t let go.”
More of his “kids” showed their support as well. Lake Patterson stopped by to offer words of encouragement. Logan Davis sweeps Niblack’s shop every Friday. A GoFundMe raised $8,000 toward Niblack’s treatments.
Levi Hawk, an Avon Middle School teacher, used his social media skills to
LENNAR
create a video announcing Niblack’s return to the chair. If business had slowed during his absence, it was now soaring.
Brownsburg police officers invited Niblack to join a local cancer walk. When he said he couldn’t walk, officers replied, “Then we’ll carry you.”
The list goes on.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. I didn’t even know how to receive a lot of that,” Niblack says. “Cancer took everything I had worked for my entire life, but I feel like the kids I had saved were now saving me. It validates what you do and who you are and what these families mean to me. My shop wouldn’t be standing if it wasn’t for all of these people. That little garage might not mean anything to anyone else, but to me and to Brownsburg — it’s home.”
Abigail H. Mitchell, DDS
YEAR-ROUND SUPPORT
SYCAMORE SERVICES SUPPORTS INDIVIDUALS
ACROSS EVERY LIFE STAGE
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Since 1987, March has been recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, with the mission to increase public awareness of the needs and potential of Americans with developmental disabilities.
However, since the 1960s, the group that eventually created Sycamore Services in Hendricks County has been raising awareness and assisting those with intellectual and developmental disabilities — and they are doing it year-round.
“We provide services across the lifetime of the person and support them and their families throughout their journey,” says Yolanda Kincaid, CEO of Sycamore Services.
Developmental milestones include sitting up,
walking, swallowing, talking or speech. When parents, caregivers or physicians recognize a concern, Sycamore Services can step in with early intervention, providing occupational, physical and speech therapy.
“I can’t underline and bold it enough — early intervention is key,” Kincaid says. “For example, the trajectory for a child who struggles with communication and receives early intervention can be night and day from one who does not receive it.”
As children grow older, Sycamore Services offers an applied behavior analysis facility benefiting children on the autism spectrum. The facility opened approximately three years ago and remains one of Sycamore Services’ best-kept secrets, something Kincaid hopes
will change in the near future.
“We are really working hard to spread awareness about our ABA facility,” Kincaid says. “Some facilities have a one-year or longer waitlist for a diagnosis. It’s nowhere near that at our facility. We want to make connections with pediatricians in the county, with schools in the area and with families to partner with them and offer our services. I think once people are aware of it, our ABA facility will be a niche for Sycamore Services.”
In addition, ABA staff follow the child from the facility to the home and school, helping others who care for the child implement best and individualized practices.
“It’s really a collaborative effort,” Kincaid says.
“The state has put caps on reimbursement rates, and it’s going to require a transition from ABA to school sooner than before. We have a truly amazing team that knows how schools and ABA work together, and that partnership is going to be important.”
Teens and young adults can also receive services.
Youth with disabilities who have 504 plans or individualized education programs in the school system can attend high school until age 22. Sycamore Services’ pre-employment and transition services help students and families prepare for next steps.
“It’s very common after high school for parents to ask, ‘Now what?’ We call it the cliff,” Kincaid says. “You’re used to your loved one attending school from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the next step has to be built and planned. We want to do that early on. We look at postsecondary college or university. It may be employment. The intent is to explore and evaluate what’s going
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to align best for the student.”
From there, Sycamore Services offers adult programs, including residential support, job placement and day services for individuals working on living skills and independence.
They also offer personal assistance care, helping individuals navigate tasks such as banking, grocery shopping and other daily needs, and partner with Hendricks County Senior Services LINK transportation.
The nonprofit also provides counseling services, not limited to disability-related behavioral supports.
In addition to supporting individuals and families, Sycamore Services emphasizes joy and connection.
“We have events and clubs, and you might not even realize something clinical is happening,” Kincaid says. “We’re making mocktails and working on social skills, or exercising while building communication.”
Most recently, the organization opened an art studio at its 201 Sycamore Lane location.
Creative Abundance Group, a consulting firm, facilitated a two-week intensive program to reimagine and utilize the space. The goal was to create opportunities for individuals served by Sycamore Services to connect with the broader community through art.
The studio includes space for sewing, crafts, visual art and building.
For those who have not worked with individuals with disabilities or do not have a loved one with special needs, it can feel
intimidating or uncomfortable. Those who do often say individuals are underestimated.
“I’m always looking at how we can put a bright, positive light on a population that is bright and beautiful,” Kincaid says. “In this case, we’re using art as a tool to do that.”
She says individuals created posters for the Danville Porch Festival and a local business has expressed interest in commissioning a mural.
“I’d love to do floats for local parades,” Kincaid says. “It’s a beautiful way for people with disabilities to be celebrated — not for their disability, but for how they contribute to their community.”
Sycamore Services recently participated in a video, All Access with Andy Garcia, scheduled for release in April 2026.
In honor of Autism Acceptance Month, the video highlights the variety of services
Sycamore Services provides and includes perspectives from board members, families, therapists and individuals receiving services.
Referrals to Sycamore Services often come from pediatricians concerned about a child’s development, but parents can also reach out directly.
Staff members help families navigate the process and connect with appropriate resources.
“We can walk you through the process, and we’re there as long as we need to be,” Kincaid says.
As funding continues to be cut or capped, Kincaid said it is increasingly important to find donors and supporters, though there are additional ways to help.
The art studio welcomes volunteers, and opportunities exist to serve on boards or committees. Sharing information about
Sycamore Services is another meaningful form of support.
“Our message to families is that early intervention is key,” Kincaid says. “Find your tribe, and we’ll support you all along the way.”
