‘Community in Connection’ Visits the Farm

Collaborations are a beautiful thing!

We are excited to be one component of Community In Crisis’ new program called ‘Community In Connection’. Each element has a different name and trips to Mane Stream are the “Horses for a Healthy Lifestyle.”

Ken Musgrove, CPRS, Director of Recovery Support with Community in Crisis, Bernardsville shared, “I wanted to let you know what a positive impact our visits have had on those that participated as well as the larger community. The ability to safely re-enter and interact in society is critical in reducing the harmful impacts of social isolation. The added benefits of grooming the horses and experiencing their soothing presence increase the value of the experience exponentially.”

The goal of ‘Community in Connection’ is to bring the recovery community together, in community with the larger community to improve everyone's overall mental well-being. Incredible partners such as you allow us to deliver on our mission and we are incredibly grateful to work with you.

Ken also stated in the recent Bernardsville Times article, “Community is the cure. Perhaps not a specific, measurable scientific cure, but an antidote to the negative consequences of isolation exacerbated by addiction and the pandemic.”

So far the group has visited the farm twice and we hope to have them back soon!

Know of a community group interested in a field trip to Mane Stream? Check it out!

We’ve ‘Herd’ the Appreciation…Have You?

By: Rebecca Jablonksi, Volunteer Coordinator

What a month!

We had a great turnout to celebrate our volunteers by sponsoring a horse or a pony for our “Herd of Appreciation.” Each horse or pony donated is a symbol of the appreciation the Mane Stream community has for our volunteers. From individual volunteers to the groups of volunteers who are dedicated to their programs, such as the therapy volunteers, adaptive riding volunteers, and the group of volunteers who come in for special visits like the Girl Scouts, our volunteers make it all happen. Without all of their hard work and commitment to each of our programs, we wouldn’t be able to provide the level of care to our participants that we do because of our volunteers.

Because a celebration isn’t a celebration without treats, we gifted our program volunteers with yummy cookies and chocolates as well as practical gifts of face masks and hand sanitizers, making sure everyone remains safe and healthy through this pandemic. We couldn’t be more grateful for each person who has offered their time and service over this past year. With all the changes we have gone through regarding our programs, each volunteer has taken it in stride. The patience, understanding, and flexibility each volunteer has given us has been invaluable as we navigate these unprecedented times.

We’ve been fortunate to have our regular Saturday Volunteers not only return for their spots but also make time during the week to fill in for other spots where we need them. Quite a few of our tried and true volunteers have taken on multiple days of commitments, understanding that there are people who are waiting until the vaccine is more widely available. This type of dedication to our program is what we love most about our volunteers, when things change at a moment's notice they are always willing to step up for our participants.. We recognize these times have been unpredictable and navigating the ever-changing rules and guidelines can seem daunting at times, but the people who come to Mane Stream never falter in their perseverance. Being able to recognize everyone for their love of our organization has been a blessing.

Open House Brings NEW Participants

Spring has definitely sprung and even though the weather was more lion than lamb on Saturday, April 10th, a consistent line of families came to tour the facility, pet the horses, and find out how programs at Mane Stream can benefit children and adults with special needs.

Director of Therapy Services, Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS was on-site answering questions along with the Head Instructor for our Adaptive Riding program, Jen Dermody.

After talking to Mel and Jen, quite a few of the families left with registration packets in hand, determined to start riding lessons or OT, PT or SLP sessions. Later this spring Katrina Low-Beer, PT, DPT will return to Mane Stream to treat clients on Thursdays.

Let us not forget the few who stopped by because our VOLUNTEERS NEEDED sign is back up! Summer Camp is just around the corner and each day during the 11 WEEKS (that’s right 11 weeks!) of camp we will need 5-6 volunteers to assist campers during grooming, tacking, and riding lessons (M-F 8:15am-12:30pm). We are also in need of volunteers with horse experience to help with our programs during the week.

Anyone who didn’t get the chance to swing by the farm can always call 908.439.9636 and talk with either Mel or Jen about current availabilities or contact them directly via email.

THERAPY: Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS (melanie@manestreamnj.org)
RIDING: Jen Dermody, Head Riding Instructor (jen@manestreamnj.org)

Learning a Thing Or Two About Wine

Virtual Wine Tasting by Tewksbury Fine and Spirits

Whether it was a group of friends gathered around a fire pit, couples lounging in their living room, or coworkers around the conference table all the attendees agree that the 5 FULCRUM wines were divine.

On April 22nd, via Zoom, Founder and Winemaker, David Rossi of Fulcrum Wines imparted his wealth of knowledge, without any pretensions, and mixed in a few tales of his winemaking journey which started in NJ. Before you knew it 90 minutes had flown by as David kept the attendees engaged and answered everyone’s questions.

If you didn’t get to attend this event you can always purchase the wines from Tewksbury Fine Wine and Spirits. Just remember to mention Mane Stream!

Thanks to Tewksbury Fine Wine and Spirits for setting the whole event up and making sure 15% of all proceeds will be donated to Mane Stream!

TECH SHEETS FOR THE 5 FULCRUM WINES

2019 FULCRUM DRY GEWURZTRAMINER
2019 CLOISONNE CHARDONNAY
2019 ON POINT PINOT NOIR
2019 BROSSEAU PINOT NOIR
2019 FULCRUM PINOT NOIR

New OTA Student at the Farm

8 Weeks of Clinical Fieldwork Studies

Please welcome our new Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) clinical fieldwork student, Carolyn Beisiegel from Eastwick College! She will be with us for the next 8 weeks working 4 days a week at the farm and 1 day remotely. We know some of you are used to seeing fieldwork students at Mane Stream but Carolyn is pretty special.

Carolyn comes to us with a ton of industry experience already. She has been a PATH Intl. Certified Riding Instructor for the past 7 years and is an avid dressage rider. She has been working at Winslow Therapeutic Center in Warwick, NY for the past 2 years and was previously a volunteer there for 3 years. She has also worked at other adaptive riding and therapeutic centers in both Colorado and Florida. Like a lot of non-profit employees, she does a bit of multitasking. In addition to teaching lessons, she is also the marketing, events, and fundraising assistant. And for the past year she has taken on the Volunteer Coordinator position.

So when you see Carolyn around the barn please welcome her and take a few minutes to ask how she's enjoying her time at Mane Stream.

Share the news that Mane Stream is a Clinical Fieldwork Education Site. Read More

Watch the Herd of Appreciation Grow!

Since April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, we are creating a Herd of Appreciation featuring our fabulous volunteers and you can help. Show your gratitude for your favorite volunteers or teams of volunteers by purchasing a "pony" or "horse" in their honor. We'll write their name on their pony/horse and send them a note letting them know they've been honored. Then we'll add their pony/horse to our herd, located along our driveway.

We are hoping for a HUGE herd so please show your love for a volunteer today
by purchasing a pony (18"x12") for $15 and/or a horse (24"x18") for $25.

Contact Rebecca at volunteer@manestreamnj.org if you have any questions.

Springtime Spirit Wear Is Here

DEADLINE - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17 @ MIDNIGHT

We’re stepping outside the box with this online spirit wear store. So if you have a closet full of traditional blue, grey and black, never fear, we have your back.

We’ve got a selection of FUN spring colors for each of the eight different items. There is a choice of youth, men and women so we haven’t left anyone out - well maybe all the Mane Stream babies and toddlers will have to wait a couple more years to sport their MS pride.

This spring design sports our MS horse (drawn by volunteer, Kate Magnier) enjoying Springtime, hangin’ with the chicks and the bunnies!

So if you are looking for something for you, your kids, or maybe even the grandkids we have you covered. TAKE A PEEK INSIDE!

Welcome New Barn Manager

Super Organized and Eager to Learn - Meet Anna Wright

Anna Wright, New Barn Manager

Equine Manager, Jen Dermody stated, “Anna isn’t just eager to learn about our fabulous herd but also eager to learn about Mane Stream’s Programs.

About Anna

Anna has been riding and working with horses since she was 4 years old and has competed in hunters, equitation, jumpers, and eventing in the past. While in college, Anna was a part of the Goucher College IHSA team in the novice division on flat. She is now a graduate of Goucher College, with a degree in business management and equine studies. In her spare time, she enjoys sculpting and antiquing.

As the Mane Stream Barn Manager, Anna is responsible for keeping our hard-working herd happy and healthy while also managing a part-time team of assistants to ensure everything in the barn is in working order and ready for program each and every day.

We welcome Anna who has jumped right into the position. We think you’ll fit right in!

Amazon Holiday Wish List - a clean sweep!

We’re stocked up for the winter thanks to our not-so-secret Santas.

Back at the beginning of December (on Letter Writing Day 12/7) the herd wrote their annual letters to Santa with a little help from Equine Manager, Jen Dermody. The compiled list ranged from laundry detergent to Pine-Sol, salt licks to Farriers Formula, and winter blankets to western pads, each with a little note from the horses telling Santa exactly why they REALLY, REALLY wanted to find these items under the tree this season.

Within hours of the launch, the items were disappearing from the Amazon Wish List. Horse loving volunteers, previous horse mamas, and Mane Stream participants were in a shopping frenzy. Soon trucks of every size and color were dropping off boxes at Mane Stream making the season bright!

Thank you to all the Not-So Secret Santas!!

Nancy Audet, Cynthia Barkman & Ron Caruso, Jessica Brown, Barbara Burke, The Chimento Family, Cathy Coloff, Maggie Conroy, Nancy Cunningham, Mary Dickey, Nancy Grossweiler, Jasper & Mom & Grandma, Erica Green Leahy, Victoria Leone, The Marchetti Family, Dan O'Donnell, Patricia (sorry we didn't get the last name), Mahathi Pentavalli, Melissa Petersen, Reagan Reed, Silly.Girlzz, and several Secret Santas too.

Did you know? Mane Stream has received $404.40 from AmazonSmile donations during 2020 (before the holiday rush). If you haven’t already, please consider making Mane Stream your organization of choice so that we will receive 0.5% of every order you place throughout the year, not just during the holidays.

Creative Holiday Fundraisers Give a Year End Boost

And if any year needed a boost it’s 2020!

This Holiday Season Mane Stream was truly overjoyed with the outpouring of kindness. Not all the proceeds are in yet but as of now we expect just over $3,100 to be donated to Mane Stream by these amazing businesses and people: Le Fash Lifestyle Boutique of Oldwick, Jessica Sanders Photography, Wicked Chocolate Bombs Fundraiser, Silliy.girlzz, and OneHope Wine.

About these amazing donors:

You have probably heard of the SILLY.GIRLZZ who have been selling bracelets since the pandemic began. In preparation for the fall and the holiday season, they updated their summer collection with new color schemes and a horseshoe tag. Recent sales and a holiday shopping event at Dover Saddlery ensured they could drop off another check of $900. Increasing their total to almost $4K for the year!!

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Then there’s LE FASH the brand new Lifestyle Boutique across the street from the Tewksbury Inn. Store owner, Arianna Vastino set aside the first weekend in December as a Holiday Shopping Kick-Off fundraiser for Mane Stream. She graciously organized for a portion of ALL online or in-store sales to benefit Mane Stream bringing in over $1,200! We are delighted to welcome Arianna to the neighborhood and we count ourselves so lucky to have this partnership. We also look forward to working together in the future.

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Next up…Jessica Sanders Photography who just so happens to be one of our generous volunteer photographers, helping to capture all the smiles and special moments at Mane Stream. This fall Jessica scheduled Limited Edition Holiday Portrait sessions for Horses and Dogs (The pics are so cute!). $50 of each session and a portion of all sales of prints/art/notecards/etc. will be coming to Mane Stream. While orders are still coming in, we are excitedly waiting to hear the final total! Thank you Jessica!!

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These shiny orbs were all the rage right this holiday season and with good reason! Local baker Juls Palmer created a Hot Cocoa Bomb Fundraiser for 4 local charities and Mane Stream was lucky enough to be on the list and recently received $600!! SOLD OUT in a flash, the extremely creative Juls sold a multitude of flavors, cute designs, and a variety of packaging styles and sizes to fit everyone on your list.

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And wrapping up the season is a tasty wine fundraiser from OneHope Wines organized by Nicole, a therapy client’s mom who just wanted us to know, "You have done such amazing work with Carmine and we all know how much he loves Mane Stream!" Since the deadline for this fundraiser extended beyond press time we can’t give you a final total but seriously it’s 2020 and every dollar counts!!

So while we are glad to see the end of 2020 we are extremely overwhelmed by the kindness of each and every donor this year. Here’s to a better 2021!