A mom from Lackawanna County who started a charity aimed at helping children who are victims of abuse had her dream come true Friday morning. Marley’s Mission held its grand opening at its new facility in Lackawanna County.
A brand new bright red barn makes quite an impact in a spot that overlooks all of Lackawanna County in Newton Township, but the real impact will be made inside its walls.
It’s the new home of a rapidly growing charity that’s gaining national attention, and it was started only a few miles away from its new home. It’s called Marley’s Mission, they provide therapy using horses for children who are victims of abuse.
Newswatch 16’s Sofia Ojeda hosted the ribbon cutting for 32 acre facility near Clarks Summit.
It’s grown a lot in size and in momentum since April Loposky had the idea about three years ago.
“Without you we would never have been able to see over 240 children in 8 different counties. You do the work nobody else can do,” Loposky said addressing the Marley’s Mission therapists at the ceremony.
When her own family was struck with tragedy, Loposky thought up Marley’s Mission as a way to provide animal therapy to children who were hurt. Since then, a team of therapists and horses have helped hundreds of children.
The new farm is named in memory of Matt Burne from South Abington Township who had plans to build a community center that’s eerily similar before he died in 2004.
The folks from Marley’s Mission were able to pull all of this off in about three months thanks to a lot of donated materials.
“Today we have sown a seed that I pray will benefit thousands of children over the years,” Eckel said.
That’s not just a prayer for the Marley’s team. But a mission too.
