Sisters company staff helps horse charity

When Kate Beardsley, executive director for Mustangs to the Rescue (MTTR), needed help with assembling a couple of shelters for the horses, Lena Fornalski, a volunteer crew member at MTTR asked her son Nick, a draftsman for ENERGYneering Solutions, Inc. (ESI), for help.

"My mom Lena asked me if this was something I could possibly do to help out, and since it looked like it was definitely more than a one-man job, I asked a couple of guys where I work at ESI, and they jumped at the opportunity to help out and I really appreciated it," said Fornalski.

Three staff members from ENERGYneering Solutions are reassembling two shelters that were donated to the program. They are volunteering their time to put up the walls and the roof. The two other staff members helping are Paul Wilson, an electrical engineer who has been with ESI for nearly three years, and Daniel Cowan, a mechanical engineer in his first year at the company.

"It's just a team effort," said Fornalski.

ENERGYneering Solutions, Inc., founded by Benny and Julie Benson, was recently awarded "Best 100 Companies to Work for in Oregon" by Oregon Business magazine. They are also Sisters' Business of the Year. ESI is an engineering, construction, and operations firm in Sisters that designs, builds and operates renewable energy facilities across the nation - from here in Sisters.

Last May MTTR relocated to their new location at Paws n Claws Resort on Cloverdale Road, owned by Janet Herring. For almost 23 years Herring has owned an active dog and cat boarding kennel and was happy to accommodate the organization.

Kate Beardsley founded MTTR, which is an all-breeds horse-rescue organization, in 2012, though she's been privately rescuing horses for over 16 years. MTTR previously operated out of Skyhawk Ranch in Redmond, but needed to relocate due to the sale of that property.

"I am a firm believer that a charitable organization needs to be supported by its community, and the community has stepped up to support us. This is exactly what's it's about," said Beardsley. "I am so happy to be back in Sisters! The phrase "it takes a village' certainly applies to this community. And MTTR is helping the community by providing horse owners and potential horse owners with assistance, educational opportunities and resources to ensure safe and secure homes for our equine partners."

Beardsley currently has 21 adoptable horses available. For more information about Mustangs to the Rescue visit mustangstotherescue.org.