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times-shamrock community newspapers 149 Penn Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 Phone: (570) 348-9185 Fax: (570) 207-3448
July 30, 2015
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riding to recovery
oN tHe iNSide the lastest happenings in our area Page 2
SUBURBAN
Marley’s Mission celebrates fifth birthday by Cathleen Lathrop
SPECIAL TO THE SUBURBAN
A nonprofit organization in Northeastern Pennsylvania recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Marley’s Mission provides free-ofcharge equine therapy to children ages 5-18 who have experienced trauma. “It’s amazing to look back on these five years and see where we started.” said April Kemp, the founder and program director. In 2011, Marley’s Mission won the “Best New Charity Award” at the third annual Classy Awards and has been getting more recognition ever since. The organization is close to Kemp’s heart. She started Marley’s Mission after a beloved child was brutally attacked. The victim participated in traditional therapy, but wasn’t responding. When the news story spread, donations started to pour in from all over the country, and Kemp decided to buy the child something they always wanted: a horse. Kemp saw a positive change in the child whenever they were around the animal. That inspired her to begin equineassisted therapy. Kemp then started to build Marley’s Mission around the idea that if a horse could help one child through a traumatic event, it could help others. For the past five years Marley’s Mission has helped many children, and has grown through the support of the community. “The great thing about this form of therapy is that it’s less intimidating for the kids.” Kemp explained. “The horses really meet the clients where they’re at. If the child doesn’t want to do something, the horse won’t do it. Through their interaction our treatment team can ask the child, ‘What do you think is going on with your horse? How can we get your horse to accomplish
Alishia Allegrucci leads one of the Marley’s Mission horses. The horses have no public names because the kids who ride them are encourgaged to name them.
this goal?’ and the kid will work on that with horse until they can actually do it themselves.” The clients not only work with horses, but also with the treatment team. One team member is a licensed mental health professional who is there for the child’s emotional safety, and the other person is an equine specialist who is there for the child’s physical safety. In the last two years the organization has moved to a property in Clarks Summit. It now has a 45-acre campus and is building a horse stable with 15 stalls in it, a modular office with two treatments rooms and a waiting room, a two indoor therapy arenas, as well as a pavilion, a treehouse, and an equipment storage area. “Keith Eckel had property in Clarks Summit, and he lowered his price so that we could afford it. We’ve built this amazing campus where we see children six days a week, with two arenas so we can see two sets of children every hour on the hour.” Kemp stated. Marley’s Mission currently sees around 80
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clients a month, and doesn’t charge a dime to any family. The organization is treating kids from nine different counties, but there are no distance boundaries as long as a client is able to get to the property. If transportation is a problem, Marley’s Mission now has a van service available. The vehicle was donated by Denise Burne and now the organization is able to pick up clients who may not have been able to come otherwise. “This organization could never have accomplished so much without the help from people. My family and I are eternally grateful to the kind people of northeastern Pennsylvania. I don’t think I could ever say thank you enough.” Kemp said with a smile. Volunteers for the organization are also appreciated and range from helping at events, working with the horses, to taking care the buildings and grounds. If interested in making a donation and for more information, visit marleysmission.com.
Clarks Summit - 215 S. State St., Clarks Summit, PA 18411 570-587-2272 Scranton - 1726 N Keyser Ave., Scranton, PA 18508; Keyser Oak Shopping Ctr 570-207-0900 Locations also in: Carbondale, Montrose, Tunkhannock, Honesdale, Dallas and Wyoming All Locations Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm • Saturday: 9am - 1pm