Many Free Community Services
The Monkey Farm is involved in many Free community services, helping to make Playas del Coco and the surrounding areas a better place for everyone to live in community.| Love Does: | “Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.” |
Free Equine Therapy for Children with Disabilities
Here are some stories of some of the children we are helping:
ETHAN is 4 years old and he has Down Syndrome. The very first time he came for his riding session, he said his colors for the first time ever! We asked him to put colored rings on the same colored peg and as he did, he said the names of the colors. The interesting thing is, we didn’t tell him the names, he knew them, but had never said them. It was locked inside his brain and being on the horse caused it to be unlocked. Ethan is improving drastically on following instructions and motor planning. You can see the joy in his face as he completes his tasks.
Ethan saying his colors.
He made the basket! Yay!
Ducking under the arch
Putting the ring on Jon
Mari with her Step-Mom
Stretching those muscles!
Mari with her Dad
Mari is so precious!
MOISES is 4 years old and he has Cerebral Palsy. His parents have never missed a week since we started, including the week that Moises was sick with a fever and cough. They said he begged to come anyway and they didn’t have the heart to tell him no. His Dad says he has dreams about riding Silver and can’t wait for Saturday every week. When Moises first started, we would tell him to bend forwards or backwards to go under the swimming pool noodles and then sit back up. His muscles were so weak in his abs and back, that he had to have people on each side help to lift him back up. Now, he holds his Dad’s pinky finger for balance and pops right up on his own! He has made tremendous progress. He is building the muscles in his abs, back and legs, plus his balance. Moises was told he would never be able to walk on his own yet, but thanks to the muscles he has built and coordination he has mastered, he is now walking and pushing around the other kids in wheelchairs at his special education school!
Moises has a lot of problems using his right hand and arm and we used to have a really hard time getting him to use it. We finally figured out that if we put reins on Silver and tell him to use both hands on the reins “like a real cowboy”, we can get him to use both hands. Then his reward for holding the reins with both hands, it to get to trot. Take a look at the video below that his mother took of him using both hands and then trotting. Between his mother’s laughter and Moises’ shouts of joy, it’s hard to know who is having more fun! It’s so nice to be able to create such happiness for so many people!
Moises has the greatest smile!
What concentration!
His favorite day of the week
First time Moises met Silver
Feeding and Addiction Recovery for the Homeless
Every Tuesday, rain or shine, you will find the volunteers at The Monkey Farm, preparing a hearty protein and vegetable rich meal for the poor and homeless in Playas del Coco. We also will be brewing some vitamin filled ice tea made with guanabana and moringa leaves to serve with dinner. This ensures that the homeless will get a hot meal at least once a week filled with vitamins and protein.
We also collect and distribute shoes, clothing and other supplies such as sample size shampoo bottles, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, etc., to donate weekly or as needed to the poor and homeless of Playa del Coco.
In March of 2019, two of the men asked for help in getting out of the lifestyle of alcoholism and living on the street. We started a volunteer program at our farm, in cooperation with our church, so they can have a sense of community, family and being part of something bigger than themselves. Since then, we have helped dozens of people to get off the streets and win their lives back. Many have committed their lives to serving others and God in moving forward with their new purpose in life, which is to help others get out of the cycle of addiction and homelessness.
Home Improvement
Wherever there is a need, The Monkey Farm volunteers can be found assisting in home improvements or complete home construction. For example, we assisted in building a new home for a family that lost everything due to the flooding during Tropical Storm Nate. In addition to our own projects, we assist in local charities whenever possible.
Disaster Relief
From hurricanes to tropical storms and floods, The Monkey Farm volunteers always freely make available all of our resources to help those in need.