'Help Needed': SARI therapeutic riding school loses 80 per cent of volunteers due to pandemic
SARI, a local therapeutic riding school for people with special needs, is officially up and riding this summer after months of being closed due to the pandemic. The SARI team is happy to have cleared that jump, but now they’re facing a new obstacle on the course.
“The volunteers are very much the backbone of SARI’s operations, we couldn’t do it without them,” says SARI Executive Director Janine Langley.
The charitable program that is known for helping others is now in desperate need of helpers of their own.
“We are totally dependent on our volunteers, we have a very, very small staff and we cannot operate without the volunteers to support our riders,” says Terry Power, volunteer coordinator and event support staffer at SARI.
For nearly 16 months, volunteers were unable to join the team at SARI due to the pandemic.
In that time period, many moved on to other things, causing an 80 per cent drop in available volunteers.
Langley says the team needs approximately 250 volunteers on the roster to operate the riding school at its best capacity.
Right now the team is operating with 50 volunteers.
SARI Executive Director Janine Langley says volunteers are the organization's backbone, Monday, July 19, 2021. (Jordyn Read / CTV News)
SARI Executive Director Janine Langley. (Jordyn Read / CTV News)
"It’s been really difficult to recruit volunteers getting back up to our base level needed…We have lots of eager participants waiting at home for our programs to open but it's all dependent on our volunteers returning.”
Power has been trying to get the word out so more riders can get back in the saddle come September.
"The most important role for our volunteers, and the one we need so many for, is actually physically participating in the lessons. All of our riders have gone through an assessment and the majority of them need someone to get the horse ready and lead the horse in the lesson and then two (volunteers) side walk, they actually provide that physical support for the riders.”
Power says up to seven volunteers can be required per riding lesson, but the standard amount is three.
“I don’t think there is anything more rewarding than animal assisted therapy, being able to see the difference this makes in peoples lives and knowing riders couldn’t be here without their support…it is rewarding for our riders but just as rewarding for our volunteers."
A volunteer has to be at least 14 years old and comfortable around horses, but they do not need previous experience handling one.
“I have been here for six years and I am not a rider, I knew nothing about horses when I started but they teach you everything and the people are wonderful,” says volunteer Donna Murray.
In the coming weeks SARI will be holding eight orientations to recruit 200 volunteers for September. To learn more click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.