Savannah’s Holbrook Experience: The Unexpected In a Week
When Savannah Scallon prepared for her stay at Holbrook Farms, she had little conviction that it would prove life-altering.
Still recovering from the loss of her husband, Army Sargent
Brenden Scallon in 2015, Savannah anticipated that this retreat like others she had attended would offer the type of experiences that are a recognized part of grief counseling: “I was scared that it was going to be more of just sit down and we talk about different feelings and some activities.” What she found was an entire community dedicated to renewal and rejuvenation for survivor spouses that would help re-start her life.
Holbrook’s
Unique Recovery Path
Savannah shared that in losing a spouse, survivors also lose a sense of trust that things will turn out okay: “You begin to doubt your decisions,
your direction, your sense of purpose.” What is often needed is the opportunity to find time for reflection that is not always readily available to working people or parents. The peaceful Minnesota surroundings of Holbrook Farms allows their visitors to take a true vacation – not one where they are organizing, preparing, or managing the experience – but one where participants are given significant space and time to focus on themselves: “it allows you to make decisions again because you’ve
“I don’t think anybody thinks that a week is going to change your life - especially when you’ve been down on such a difficult path.”
- Savannah Scallon
been able to disconnect for a little bit and just figure it out; we could concentrate on us and what we wanted in our lives.”
“Clearing Away the Cobwebs”
What Savannah experienced at Holbrook – from the caring staff, from local volunteer donors, from the other attendees – was the chance to trust herself and find the isolated time needed to “clear away the cobwebs.” The combination of being surrounded by an involved community, outdoor recreation, and meaningful collaboration “gave us all a sense of completeness – that we can do this; we could see our strength.”
Holbrook Farms has created a special opportunity for survivor spouses to re-set and revitalize in a very short time, which Savannah found amazing because “just that
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week contained so many of the components of building self-esteem, learning new things, and having fun.”
Complete Connection
The opportunity to work and play alongside other survivor spouses is something that is also unique to the Holbrook Farms experience, and Savannah found the time together helpful no matter how recent a participant’s loss was. Everyone had something to learn and contribute, which created a permanent bond and gave participants a chance to both mentor and be mentored. Many of Savannah’s group have stayed in contact since the retreat because “I’m going to cheer you on even though we’re thousands of miles apart.”
Moving Forward: A New Normal
A key element of the retreat was creating a positive process to help participants recover the confidence to pursue goals. Savannah recently completed a reflexology certification
despite dealing with sight problems because “If I can be out on a lake doing yoga, I can definitely master all these other things.” Being a single or only parent who is processing grief while helping their families with their loss is one of the toughest challenges of being a survivor. Having Holbrook Farms as a foundation for recovery, Savannah was able to begin to establish new traditions and new ways to approach her loss knowing “it’s never going to be okay, but I can get through this.” That confidence and trust she found in one week at Holbrook has helped her over the past two years and will continue to affect the lives of all attendees long after they’ve left the lake.
BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Jessica’s
Purpose-
Driven Leadership
Every organization has its compass, someone who quietly ensures the mission never strays off course. At Holbrook Farms, that guiding presence is Jessica Domitrovich, our dedicated Vice President and longtime board member. Holbrook is a space where those who have given so much can finally exhale, reflect, and be cared for.
- Jessica
Jessica’s connection to Holbrook is deeply personal. As a military spouse who has experienced loss within her own circle, she was drawn to Holbrook’s mission to provide healing and connection to surviving spouses. “It’s more than a place, it’s a purpose,” she says. “Holbrook is a space where those who have given so much can finally exhale, reflect, and be cared for.”
Over more than a decade of service, Jessica has helped guide Holbrook through seasons of growth and
transformation. From strengthening internal operations to winning pivotal grants that now fund airfare and kids’ camp costs, her strategic vision has helped make our retreats more accessible and impactful.
But for Jessica, it’s not about the numbers. It’s about the women who receive their first gift since losing their husband. The mother who dresses up for dinner for the first time in years. The moment someone finally breathes deeply again. “Those moments remind me why this work matters,” she shares.
A Place Where Healing Feels Personal
What sets Holbrook apart, Jessica explains, is its intentionality. “We’re often told we’re not big enough for some grants, but every guest
Army Sargent Brenden Scallon
here is truly seen, heard, and cared for. That’s our power.” This focus on depth rather than scale ensures the personal experience never gets lost, even as the organization plans to host more retreats and reach new families.
Jessica’s leadership is rooted in collaboration, trust, and a deep belief in service. Her story is a reflection of what makes Holbrook Farms special: heartfelt leadership, mission-driven growth, and a community where healing takes root.
Want to support this mission?
As Jessica puts it, “Your time, energy, or donation, no matter the size, makes a direct and meaningful impact.” Holbrook thrives because of people like her, and people like you.
“It’s more than a place, it’s a purpose.”
- Jessica
Gratitude for Our Global Supporters
Thank you to Our Global Supporters, especially our Military Spouses’ Clubs!
We are incredibly grateful for the continued support Holbrook Farms receives from around the world. We want to extend a special thank you to the amazing Spouses’ Clubs from several military bases who have generously contributed to our 2025 retreat season.
These remarkable groups not only stand behind our military families but also work tirelessly year-round to raise funds for causes that align with their mission of service and support. Their hard work and generosity directly fuel our ability to host healing and restorative retreats for those who need it most.
Know a Spouses’ Club?
With heartfelt appreciation, we recognize:
Cannon Air Force Spouses’ Club
Hurlburt Spouses’ Club
Kirtland Spouses’ Welfare Club
Langley Spouses’ Club
Malmstrom Spouses’ Club
Mountain Home Officers’ Spouses’ Club
Team Seymour Spouses’ Club
To all the spouses involved-thank you for championing our mission and spreading compassion through action.
If you’re located on or near a military base (any branch) and can help connect us with a local Spouses’ Club, we’d love to hear from you. Your introduction could help us expand our mission even further! We’re especially looking to connect with Spouses Clubs from the Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Army.
912 McKinley Ave #222
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
