The Covid cancellation of their sleepaway riding camp put a big hole in the summer for Charlie Brandy and Maya Green. But like others who have risen to the pandemic challenge instead of stewing about it, the teens found a way to keep busy while giving back.
The girls’ mothers, Carla Komar and Erika Green, worked with them to devise a plan.
“The first thing that came to mind was helping someone with cancer, or helping with Covid,” recalled Erika.
Charlie and Carla (left) with bracelet partners Maya and Erika (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
But the girls, who met when they rode at Watchung Stables in Mountainside, said, “We like horses. Why can’t we do something for horses?”
“Then the light clicked,” as Erika put it. The girls and their mothers regularly drive by Mane Stream in Oldwick, so while looking out the car window, they glimpsed the facility’s sign and asked, “Why not that?”
Mane Stream (www.manestreamnj.org) utilizes equine-assisted activities “to improve the quality of life for individuals with physical, developmental, emotional and medical challenges.”
It is a particularly suitable beneficiary because Maya, a 13-year-old seventh grader at the Warren Middle School in Warren Township, has a spinal condition that left her with permanent damage. She started her involvement with horses through therapeutic riding, getting a guiding hand from her stepsister, Jillian Leahy, who was involved with Mane Stream as a volunteer years ago and did a residency in equine therapy as part of her college curriculum.
Charlie, 13, an eighth grader at Columbia Middle School in Berkeley Heights, said she and Maya are hoping to volunteer at Mane Stream when Covid is over. But first, after deciding on the good cause they were going to help, the girls and their mothers had to figure out how to raise money.
“I came up with an idea of selling pet rocks,” chuckled Erika. “Everyone thought that was ridiculous, and I agree. They came up with `Why don’t we make these cool bracelets?’”
Carla, who designs apparel, said, “It came together better than I ever expected. With the packaging and stickers and logo and how the beads look, I think all of us were like, `This is not some kids’ project.’ It came out so professional-looking. We got so excited, which made us work harder on the bracelets.”
The summer version of the multi-colored beaded bracelets, which sell for $12, features a seashell; a gilded mini-horseshoe will sub for the shell in the fall line. So far, sales of the bracelets have yielded $2,000 that the girls will give to Mane Stream. They’re hoping to add another $500 by the end of the summer.
Charlie and Maya with their bracelets, supervised by a Mane Stream horse. (Photo © 2020 by Nancy Jaffer)
This has been a tough year for Mane Stream because of the Covid. The stable was closed for 12 weeks and the number of clients has been limited since it reopened in June. But whether anyone is riding or not, the horses still have to be fed. Mane Stream can use all the help it can get.
“We’re running at 25 percent capacity but the horses don’t know that, so horses need the same care every day,” said Trish Hegeman, Mane Stream’s executive director.
“I think what’s just amazing is that the girls thought of this themselves and really researched an organization and something that was really meaningful for them. We’re just delighted they found us. The way we think about it, any gift is fantastic. It doesn’t matter the size; it’s somebody thinking about us and wanting to help.”
She explained most clients, aside from independent riders who don’t require a lot of assistance, are unable to come back to Mane Stream at the moment because of Covid.
“We have some people who need a lot of support, and we feel that’s not the safest thing for us right now, putting our volunteers and therapists really close to them for half an hour, 45 minutes at a time.” With that financial crunch, “People who think of something can make a little bit of a difference, pay for shoes, pay for feed,” Trish noted.
The colorful bracelets.
Alanna Flax-Clark, a Paralympic hopeful who is Mane Stream’s special projects manager, has been impressed by Maya and Charlie.
“Their love for the horses and what they’ve done for them personally really shines through,” she said.
“For anyone to bring good out of what’s going on currently and not just sit around the house watching TV all day is wonderful, but for two kids to stand up and say they want to do more to support the community is something even more special,” Alanna pointed out.
“They’re young, but have really thought this entire thing out on their own as to why they want to help during this time of uncertainty and really picked an organization that is connected to a cause that means a lot to them as well. I was just blown away by how they were able to talk about it all, but still be kids at the same time.”
As Carla noted, doing good has paid off in satisfaction while raising money for a special cause.
“It’s been really fun. We all love horses, so it’s made it even more exciting for us. We’ve all taken part in it,” added Carla, who has worked on the packaging.
The bracelets are nicely packaged.
Erika mentioned that everywhere the girls go, they take the bracelets with them and don’t hesitate to fill people in about their project. They approached show jumper Georgina Bloomberg, who has been involved in many good causes, and she told them she would promote the project by posting on social media.
When they meet new prospects, “The best thing is the girls talk about their experience about riding a horse. There’s something therapeutic about being with horses,” commented Erika, who is involved with recruiting. She took on a second job to make sure her daughter could continue to ride.
“I think it’s brought to light there need to be more places like Mane Stream and there has to be lobbying for insurance to cover it,” she stated. Citing the increase in teen suicides, she suggested that if high schools offered riding clubs “I truly think it would make a difference.”
The teens call their project Silly Girlzz after a song they heard on the radio. Their Instagram account is @silly.girlzz and email is silly.girlzz2020@gmail.com, for those who want to order the bracelets. They also are available through Horsemen’s Outlet in Lebanon.
