FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Torus Tammer

Barbara Kirk gave up riding horses two decades ago inorder to raise

her two children. Riding remained dear toher heart, however, raising her

family was her ultimatepriority.

Kirk had all but given up on the idea of ever being able to saddle up

again on a regular basis until three years ago. While at work, she was

presented with the opportunity to volunteer at the Therapeutic Riding

Center in Huntington Beach -- a nonprofit organization that provides

horseback riding astherapy for disabled people.

“I work as a receptionist for Sharp electronics inHuntington and about

three years ago, a representativefrom the riding center came in to pick

up a charitabledonation that our company had made,” Kirk said. “I love

horses and was interested in being involved. Once I found out that they

needed volunteers, I jumped on it.”

Along with her husband, Kirk has been a Huntington Beach resident for

28 years. Previously, she had volunteered as a Sunday school teacher,

something she did with a sense of purpose and satisfaction for five

years. For Kirk, being able to volunteer at the riding center has enabled

her to kill two birds with one stone. She was able to satiate her desire

to be around the equine species while also fulfilling the longing to once

again invest time into her community.

“I started off by volunteering to sell tickets for things like horse

shows and the dachshund dog races at [Old World Village’s] Oktoberfest

because I had a full-time job and could only volunteer on weekends,” Kirk

said. “But at the beginning of this year, the center started having

Saturday lessons and that worked with my timetable. So again, I jumped at

it and now I look forward all week to Saturday lessons where I get to be

around the horses and the kids.”

A dedicated part of the team that keeps the center’s doors open, Kirk

is the consummate cheerleader emphasizing the constant need for

volunteers and corporate assistance.

“We need volunteers and sponsorship to keep the facility running

well,” Kirk said. “Our horses are always in need of equipment and care so

that means we need sponsors to donate products and money. As for

volunteering, I even got my husband involved by having him build a new

set of stairs for the facility.”

As far as Kirk is concerned, the benefits gained for all involved are

astronomical.

“The instructors are certified and terrific here and I have made so

many friends within the community,” Kirk said. “I’m so enthusiastic about

what I do, that I even signed up for a signing class to be more useful

and capable of communicating with those who come here who are hearing

impaired.”