Veterans

Mind-Body Wellness for Veterans

Smith Farm in Easton’s Borderland State Park

Smith Farm, in Christine’s hometown and favorite park, focuses on providing holistic trauma recovery to veterans with PTSD. At this innovative center that encourages creativity and mindfulness, veterans are able to engage in yoga, tai chi, reiki, meditation, horticultural therapy and art therapy, among other activities, receiving what experts hope will be best-in-class therapy in a serene, beautiful setting. Along with mind-body outdoor programs, and with the Foundation’s annual support, the organization is renovating an old farmhouse on the property. This will provide a peaceful indoor setting for wellness classes, retreats and events for veterans, first responders and their families. In 2024, Smith Farm partnered with Southeastern Vocational Technical Highschool to complete the interior renovations of the house. This collaboration ensures the work is done while giving students the opportunity for hands-on experience.

Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center of the San Francisco Bay Area

Spirit Horse Ranch provides equine therapy to improve the lives of children and adults facing physical, mental and emotional challenges. CMLF continued to support Spirit Horse Therapeutic Riding Center of the San Francisco Bay Area this year, as they recently launched a Veterans Program designed to help vets with various physical, emotional, and psychological challenges, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and physical injuries. Program benefits include emotional healing, physical rehabilitation, social interaction, and stress reduction.

Yoga In Action, Greenland, NH

Yoga in Action is a yoga service organization which helps people navigate life's challenges by providing accessible yoga programs to individuals in a wide variety of settings and circumstances.

With a grant from the Foundation, Yoga In Action resumed their “Free Yoga For Veterans” program after a long COVID hiatus, giving veterans in the Seacoast area a chance to participate in an accessible program with proven benefits. Yoga is known to reduce anxiety and depression, help manage stress, increase strength and flexibility, and reduce pain, improving the overall mental and physical health of our vets.

Free Yoga for Veterans was founded by Nancy Garnhart. Nancy is a highly trained yoga teacher who also holds certification in Mindful Yoga Therapy (MYT), a powerful protocol for working with veterans living with PTSD. Veterans who have attended Nancy’s FYFV classes in the past have discovered the amazing changes regular participation in these classes can bring

Four Legged Angels

Four Legged Angels, based in Middleboro, MA, provides free therapy/service dogs and training to vets and first responders who have suffered trauma while serving. The dogs are often rescued from last-chance shelters, making the connection to vets truly life-changing and lifesaving on both sides. Each client undergoes a full background check and is mandated to attend two training sessions a month with their dog. The dogs provide purpose and companionship as well as assistance with underlying medical issues. With the help of the Foundation, the organization is adding a patio onto its property to serve as a spot for community-building among the clients and dogs. Christine loved animals, and especially dogs, so we know she would LOVE this partnership!

The Christine M Loeber Foundation’s Memorial Scholarship

Oliver Ames Highschool, Easton

Christine was known for her friendliness throughout her high school years – with her soccer and basketball teammates, her teachers, siblings of friends and random kindness and generosity of spirit and passion for humanitarian causes. ds in the hallways. Then, and throughout her life, she had the ability to make everyone she interacted with feel special. This scholarship, given to a graduate of her alma mater in Easton, MA, will be awarded to someone who spreads kindness and cheer at Oliver Ames High School and shares her

Our 2024 OA Scholarship Recipient Maeve Curtain and honorary award recipient Ian Kelly at Senior Night.

Wellness

hope for homeless

The christine loeber clinic at boston health care for the homeless program

In 2002, Christine took on a role with the Development and Research departments at BHCHP. Working with an incredible team, she soon immersed herself in this organization dedicated to serving Boston’s most vulnerable patients. While there, she worked tirelessly to update and publish a manual of communicable diseases and common problems for homeless people, which is still used today at similar centers nationwide. In September 2018, BHCHP dedicated a clinic in her name at the New England Center for Veterans, a remarkable but fitting honor for a person whose dedication, talent, and joyful personality had such an impact on the organization and its people.

At the BHCHP Christine Loeber Clinic at NECHV we are honored to serve and care for veterans.  We provide primary care, mental health services (psychiatry and counseling), hepatitis C treatment, office-based addiction therapy (OBAT), lab services and walk in nurse and provider services.  Our counselor has been in the clinic for 1 year this August.  This has supported a tremendous need for mental health support for our veterans who carry many invisible wounds.  The clinic team responds to medical emergencies and works hand in hand with the staff at the New England Center and Home for Veterans.  During flu season we hold annual flu clinics for the veterans.  

Mentis, Napa California

Dedicated to the emotional health and wellbeing of all Napa County residents, Mentis provides bilingual, accessible and affordable mental health services to people of all ages and income levels through programs ranging from prevention to treatment.

Mentis is one of Napa County’s oldest nonprofits, and provides a full scope of mental health services for people of all backgrounds. Mentis is a crucial part of the local mental health safety net: we are the only provider who serves individuals who are uninsured and the only agency that works with clients of all ages.

The Foundation partnered with Mentis to support its housing program'; offering a safe, stable home and case management support to clients who have experienced homelessness and struggle with significant instability in their lives as a result of chronic, severe mental illness. This program aligns with the Foundation’s interest in wellness, with a specific focus on wellness for homeless individuals, providing long-term support to housing clients, which allows them to achieve a sense of security, safety, and wellbeing.