STAND STRONG with jb and me now and through out the year!

jb and me decided to give 15% of their sales from the BIG GIVE to the organization that co-owner Maribeth Van Zalen and her husband Tom founded MANE HOPE. Mane Hope is a beautiful equine therapy for kids that have been through extremely difficult times held at their farm. Below is a summary of the organization.

The Program

Mane Hope provides an individualized opportunity for kids in the foster care system. Inside the arena our riders learn how to communicate with and lovingly control a horse. Outside the arena, our riders experience growth in many areas, including self- assuredness, empathy, and personal responsibility. We eagerly look ahead as our horse savvy volunteers are paired with new participants in the summer and fall of 2020. We also rely on donor volunteers to make this ministry a reality for children and teens in our area.

Goals and Objectives

Mane Hope pairs volunteers with children and teens who have experienced trauma for a weekly session with a horse.   Children and teens experience the therapeutic benefits of riding and caring for horses.  Volunteers provide opportunities for children to connect experiences with a horse to their own life and life experiences. 

The heart of Mane Hope is to provide a safe place for children to experience hope, healing and encouragement. 

Get Connected

Mane Hope depends on the generosity of our community.  If this is a ministry you would like to support financially, please contact Rich Gritter at rgritter@bethany.org or call 616.499.6330.  For any questions about the ministry, for if interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Sandy Brice at sbrice@bethany.org or call 616.901.1865.

 We couldn’t let the day go by with out recognizing two other amazing organizations that our jb and me team is a part of.  Yeah, It’s a Hand Out, founded by our Holland Shop Manager Laura Flom and her husband Guy, as well as Faith45 that was founded by jb and me’s controller Julie Reuschell and her husband Chris. Below is a summary and a link to these beautiful organizations:

Yeah, It’s a Handout is a volunteer based organization that strives to provide both essential and non-essential needs/services for people in the Holland/Zeeland and surrounding community.  Laura and Guy’s hope is to provide ease for those who struggle and brightness for those facing dark times. At Yeah, It’s a Handout!, they seek to help neighbors, regular folks who are experiencing hardship and find themselves in need of financial assistance, practical advice/services, spiritual guidance or simply an act of kindness. They believe that each person serves as an important part of our greater community; and, everyone all has unique value. We want to start a movement – neighbors helping neighbors, a giant leap for civic empathy and goodwill! ( to learn more go to www.yeahitsahandout.com )

Faith45 exists to raise awareness and provide support for families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth and infant loss. This ministry provides Faith Boxes to families who have experienced this loss no parent should ever have to live through. Inside are items to help along the grief journey – devotionals, books, bracelets, candles, forget-me-not flower seeds, children’s books, music and more. Faith45 also provides a mentorship program where women can walk one-on-one with another woman who has been through a similar story of loss. This mentorship is all done electronically and is just someone to listen, talk with and encourage, who truly gets it.  Faith45 was born out of a dream to honor precious kiddos gone too soon and to help grieving families in any way possible. ( to learn more go to www.faith-45.com )

*One more exciting thing that is happening is Lauren Failing is going to San Antonio, Honduras on a Mission Trip the end of February! She will be helping build a church in thpe village, creating Sunday School rooms and helping create a beautiful God filled community! We want to help her with the expense of her mission trip so on February 1st we will be donating 100% of our Grand Rapids Swan Creek Proceeds to her trip! Way to go Lauren we our so proud of you, and love your heart!

At jb and me our heart is that we are stronger together and we invite you to STAND STRONG with us. Together we can be difference makers!