Meet Our Volunteers

David Privette, Volunteer of the Year 2007
David’s thoughts on being a MH Volunteer

If you lined up a cow a horse a pig and a goat, I could identify the horse. That was the extent of my knowledge about horses when I first came to Mountin’ Hopes. I can now proudly not only identify a horse, I can name all of Mountin’ Hopes horses and can confidently work with and care for them. The excellent training and patience of the staff, especially Katie, of my many, many questions is what allowed me gain this knowledge and confidence. I absolutely love working with and caring for the horses.

I first came to Mountin’ Hopes because of the riders. I first began to work with kids and teenagers with challenges and disabilities in the summer of 2006 at Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, NC. The camp is for children with life threatening and terminal diseases and disabilities. My life completely changed after that summer, and I have been as active as I can with the camp ever since. The opportunity to continue that interaction is what led me to Mountin’ Hopes.

I have had many amazing and heart touching moments at MH. I wish that I had the space to write about all of them. First I want to speak about the heart and soul of this riding center of miracles and hope. Katie, Becki, Rebecca and LeAnn are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Having the privilege work along side the gifted and talented staff of MH is special. There is a lot of unsung, dirty, early, late and just plain hard work that is done by this staff. They have answered all my questions from horse care and knowledge to how to best work with a rider during a class. I want to thank all of them for what they give to the riders, volunteers and horses.

Being a volunteer at MH is pretty simple. The opportunities are endless. If you want to work indoors, outdoors, with horses and riders or just feed, the job is here for you. Rebecca does and incredible job of scheduling and filling all of the many positions that are needed. The needs around the farm and class schedules are emailed to the volunteers. For me volunteering has become something that I have to do. I really begin to miss the people and horses when circumstances keep me from MH. I have learned between MH and VJGC that the rewards you receive from giving of yourself far exceed the effort you put into it.

I feel very fortunate to be a volunteer at MH. In my opinion it is a privilege to serve and not a favor that you are doing for MH. For me, I sense this most when I am in a class working with a rider. All of the riders who come to MH are special in their own individual ways. These riders have been dealing with something extra in their lives that most of us do not. I take it very seriously when a rider and their family allows you to be involved in their life.

I have had many riders that I have worked with, and they have all been a blessing. There are two that I want to briefly write about. Andy is the first rider I ever worked with. He has a great sense of humor and loves being at the riding center. His smile and high fives are priceless. The session with Andy was always full of laughter and smiles, and questions about anything and everything.

When anyone would ask me about working with Melinda my answer was simple, you cannot have a bad day after seeing Melinda. Her smile and wave to you before she ever gets to the barn isle was enough to make you feel better. She is an independent rider who always works hard at getting better, and that is really the bottom line for me in all of this. I love seeing people get better. Whether it is gaining strength, independence, confidence or mobility, I want to be a part of helping people get there. Mountin’ Hopes allows me that opportunity, and I am thankful every day for it.

Abby Skorupski, Volunteer of the year 2006

Abby Skorupski started volunteering with Mountin' Hopes in February of 2006 in our riding sessions. From the start, Abby was willing to fill many roles as a volunteer and was at the barn multiple times through out the week. She quickly became a skilled horse handler and led horses for sessions as well as formed great relationships with the riders as a sidewalker. With her eagerness to make a difference, Abby passed the riding tests with flying colors and became an exercise rider for the program horses. In addition to that, Abby gave even more time to volunteer as a feeder, sometimes serving in that role up to four times a week. Abby did all this while interning at the Biltmore House as a pastry chef. It was a sad day at Mountin' Hopes when Abby’s internship was over and she moved back to Massachusetts . While serving at Mountin' Hopes, Abby made a difference in all of the lives that she encountered. From helping those unable to walk learn to ride, to coming to the barn in snowstorms to make sure the horses were fed, Mountin’ Hopes is a better place because of volunteers like Abby! Thank you for your dedication and the impact you left on so many lives.

Christa Gaffer, Volunteer of the year 2005

Christa Gaffer is a student at Mars Hill College who became acquainted with Mountin’ Hopes through the Bonner Scholar Program at her school. Initially, Christa had little to no experience around horses. Though volunteering at Mountin’ Hopes was a requirement for her scholarship, it became apparent very quickly that her service to Mountin’ Hopes was motivated more by her desire to contribute to our mission rather than simply fill a service learning requirement. As her relationship with Mountin’ Hopes grew, so did her horsemanship skill. In addition to volunteering with our riders in the lesson program, Christa has contributed countless hours to feeding and mucking around the barn yard. In 2005 she was influential in recruiting and organizing other Mars Hill College Students to tackle the tremendous project of clearing brush from our many, many feet of fence line. On several other occasions, Christa and her buddies from school have spent time around campus stuffing Mountin’ Hopes campaign mailings and newsletters. In addition to her studies, Christa is a talented member of the Bailey Mountain Clogging Team who just brought home to Mars Hill College their 13th national Championship Award. Mountin’ Hopes as truly been blessed to have such a talented, positive individual on our team. Way to go Christa!

Volunteer of the Year 2004

Alvin Bean

Volunteer of the Year 2003

Kim Ferguson

Volunteers of the Year 2002

Larry Burda, Paul Huisking

Volunteers of the Year 2001

Colleen Boll, Shinobu Ichikawa

Volunteers of the Year 2000

Kathy Fuerst, Grace Campbell

Volunteers of the Year 1999

Bill Boll, Nancy Harmon

Volunteers of the year 1998

Gabrielle Star, Natalie West