OUR COVID-19 STORY
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June 15, 2020 - FOX43 NewsVolunteers and laid-off staff cared for animals and plants after our program was closed due to stay-at-home orders early into the COVID-19 pandemic. Programs including music therapy, community volunteering, crafts, cooking and more were put to a halt. However, the Farm’s miniature horses, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits and other animals still needed care. Volunteer staff continued to come to the Farm to feed the animals and tend to the gardens, as well as repaint and clean buildings used for day program activities. Staff member Lauren Skorupski remarked, "I wanted to volunteer even when the program temporarily closed so that when the Growers are able to return, their farm is just like they left it. I helped care for the animals while they are gone because animal therapy is so helpful for their sensory skills, and they love getting to take care of them.”
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June 17, 2020 - Good Day PAExecutive Director Jim Gainer was welcomed to the Good Day PA set to speak about the closing of our day program due to COVID-19. Our program was closed for Growers as of March 17th, but staff still came to the Farm to paint and fix up some buildings. The shelter in place order resulted in a temporary staff layoff. The animals still needed to be fed and the gardens needed tended to, so some staff continued to come to the Farm as volunteers. A Zoom party to connect with Growers and show them their Farm turned into daily parties. Limited outings to community gardens and parks were started during the yellow phase in Dauphin County when some staff were brought off furlough.
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June 24, 2020 - FOX43 NewsJessica Pash of FOX43 conducted an interview with Executive Director Jim Gainer through Zoom. The interview detailed the Farm program closure and help from staff volunteers, followed by the search to reconnect virtually with Growers. The simple idea of showing Growers their animals and gardens through video laid the foundation for what turned into daily Farm Zoom parties. The parties included crafts, cooking, yoga, and music therapy. The story on FOX43 covered some basic facts about our programs and how we handled the COVID-19 crisis at the very beginning.
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July 14, 2020 - FOX43 NewsAnother Zoom interview between Jim Gainer and Jessica Pash described the first day of our day program opening back up to Growers. Growers were excited to return to the Farm to see welcome signs lining the fences, and to interact with each other and their animals. Zoom parties are still running so that Growers that aren’t on the Farm can still interact with staff and their friends. Social distancing and other safety measures are also in place. The limited number of Growers on the Farm per day, 12, and the use of pool noodles to keep six feet apart, are two of those measures.
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July 16, 2020 - Good Day PAJim Gainer visited the Good Day PA set to give a follow-up on our earlier story about the Farm closure. He recapped the start to Zoom parties and limited community outings, then detailed our reopening and new safety measures. Hope Springs Farm’s Operations Director, Lori Lidle, has been an essential part of our program changes since we closed, so Jim discussed her role. She organizes the crafts and cooking activities for Zoom parties, and makes sure that Growers in the community and on the Farm have the needed materials. Jim closed the segment by encouraging the public to check out our Zoom parties and make a donation if they want to help our program succeed after reduced funding.
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DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS CRISIS
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PAR, The Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability has released their new video (at left) about the statewide crisis for Direct Support Professionals. Being a DSP and serving our Growers is a wonderful and rewarding experience. We need everyone's support to advocate for the State to increase rates so we can build a better stable workforce to improve the quality of life for all adults who have an Intellectual or Developmental Disability or Autism. Visit the site FixtheDSPCrisis.com and support these valuable Professionals.
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If you or someone you know is interested in joining our Team here at Hope Springs Farm,
contact us at 717-298-1845, or email us at Recruiter@HopeSpringsFarm.org
contact us at 717-298-1845, or email us at Recruiter@HopeSpringsFarm.org
YOU CAN CHANGE A LIFEWe are here to ensure all our adults have a meaningful day and improve their life in some way. You can be a part of that; you can help us change a life!
We need lots of things here at the Farm. If you would like to donate something download our list. You can do your own fundraiser with your friends or co-workers, to raise the funds to get one of the items. |
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We would like to thank the Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) program at Appalachian State University for their volunteer work at the Farm in 2019 and 2020. Students had the opportunity to volunteer in various ways during their week, from working out in the pastures with the animals, to going on community outings with Growers. They also helped grow vegetables in the Greenhouse and assisted Growers with cooking and crafting activities. The group traveled together from Boone, North Carolina led by staff volunteer coordinator, Kelsey Travethan. When asked what her personal goal of this volunteer experience was, Travethan responded, “I want to learn what it means to be a Grower. And I learned that it means to have a community of people who care and support your growth as an adult with a disability.”
If you have a group that would enjoy volunteering their time to help out at Hope Springs Farm, please give us a call at 717-298-1845. We always need extra help! |
