Volunteer spotlight in his own words: Dana Rounsaville

Written by: Dana Rounsaville

I first became aware of Mane Stream when Karen (Board President) and Steve Kaufhold invited my wife and I to attend an Equus event approximately 12 years ago. When I saw the videos played at the event and the passion of the Mane Stream staff I decided then that it would be something I would like to be involved with. I realized that attending Equus and making a donation was not sufficient. I could do more.

Once I retired in 2022 the first thing I did was register for a Mane Stream orientation. I was looking to fill my free time; what I got in return was much more. After almost 100 hours working with the clients and seeing the smiles on their faces, I find it so rewarding. It really helps put things in perspective. I've been lucky to have so much in my life. When I see these young clients and parents and how they handle the hand that they've been dealt, it makes me appreciate even more how lucky I have been.

I can't say that one particular event has been more rewarding than another. What is probably most rewarding is when a session ends and the client thanks you for helping. I always tell them, "No, thank you for letting me assist.".

One of the other things I quickly noticed is the passion and friendliness of the staff and volunteers at Mane Stream. Many travel a distance after work to fulfill their volunteer time slots but always have a smile on their face. I've made a lot of new friends during my time here.

Working with the kids from the Pillar School is particularly rewarding. You can see how intimidated they are when they first arrive. Gradually smiles come to their faces and before they leave they are hugging the horses.

I plan to continue volunteering and working with the clients for years to come. Seeing their smiles every day and having them thank me is so rewarding. When my session ends, I immediately begin looking forward to my next session. My only regret is that I didn't start volunteering sooner.

In closing, I would strongly encourage others who can spare the time, to volunteer as well. You get back 100 times more than you give!

Thank you for years of support and for joining the volunteering team as soon as you were able!

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Consider Joining the Volunteer Team!
https://www.manestreamnj.org/volunteeropportunities