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  • Kitty Miller, niece of Sister Adrian McLean, donated $5,000 worth of fencing to the Horses Offering People Encouragement (HOPE) program. The finishing touches on the first part of the fencing project were put into place last week. Those associated with the project from left are, Sister Tonette Sperando, McLean, Kerri Roberts and Sister Lynn McKenzie. ASHLEY GRAVES

    Non-profit HOPEs to be up and running soon

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December 18, 2011

Non-profit HOPEs to be up and running soon

By Ashley Graves The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — Kerri Roberts has seen things come together quite rapidly over the last several months for a program she’s become very passionate about.

A little more than a year ago, Roberts gave up her career and salary with the Cullman County Cooperative Extension Service to work as a volunteer for Horses Offering People Encouragement (HOPE), an upstart non-profit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic riding opportunities to mentally and physically challenged children in Cullman County.

Since that time, the organization has gained numerous amounts of support from the community. The Benedictine Sisters at Sacred Heart Monastery offered HOPE a $10 per-year lease agreement for land located on Convent Road, in addition to receiving a donation of $5,000 fencing from a niece of Sister Adrian McLean.

Two months ago, the program broke ground on the property, and early last week put the finishing touches on the first part of the fencing project. Fencing in the arena is the next step on the agenda for the organization.

“It’s exciting to see that things are finally starting to come together,” Roberts said.

David Poynor, president of HOPE, echoed those thoughts.

“It’s a great feeling to drive by and see the progress that has been made,” Poynor said. “The fencing makes it look like something is going on. Now you get the wow effect when you drive by.”

According to a brochure put out by the organization, there are currently 1,222 special needs children — including 3- and 4-year-olds — in the county and city school systems. There are also approximately 200 adults at the Cullman County Center for the Developmentally Disabled that HOPE will serve. Once the program is ready, it will benefit those with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, visual impairment, deafness, down syndrome, mental retardation, autism, emotional disorders, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, cardiovascular accident and stroke.

It’s Roberts’ hope that the program will be ready to launch in late spring or early summer.

“It will be in phases with structures designed so that we can add on. We’re starting small so that we can grow,” Roberts said.

For more information about the program, to volunteer or to donate money, email HOPE@hopehorses.org or visit www.hopehorses.org.



* Ashley Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, Ext. 225 or by email at agraves@cullmantimes.com

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