Pocono News Section

Volunteers Help During Day of Caring

Volunteers Help During Day of Caring - Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 04:08AM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Thursday April 22 2010
SNYDERSVILLE, MONROE COUNTY - An army of volunteers spread across the Poconos Thursday. They painted, pruned and cleaned up messes all over Monroe County.

The organizations that benefited include Equi-librium in Snydersville. Horses help people with special needs there. Student Chris Powell smiled,"I like to ride the horses."

Equi-librium CEO Pat Sayler said,"We use the horse's movement to improve posture and motor planning, coordination."

The staff is always busy helping students learn and bond with the animals. Student Morgan Turner said,"I like learning about all the different parts of the horse."

The work in the arena and the stables takes all of the staff's time. So they can't get to everything they need. Thursday - the Monroe County United Way stepped in to help."I tell you - it is just marvelous," said Sayler.

It was the united way day of caring. United Way spokesperson Chris Grape-Garvey explained,"It's basically an opportunity to live united. You know giving, advocating and volunteering."

Volunteers from several business went to Equi-librium. Harley Fish Junior Custom Woodworking helped put up a new fence. The old one was held together with duct tape. Fish said,"We just think it's a good think to go out and volunteer for a day and be able to help out."

Others cleaned up pastures. Sayler said,"It's very important for the health of the horses that old hay and old manure be cleaned up."

Equi-librium estimates if it would have to pay for these services - it would have cost more than $1,300.

Equi-librium isn't the only place people helped. The United Way had volunteers at more than thirty locations.

About 200 volunteers helped out across Monroe County. In all they put in about 3,000 man hours.