(upbeat rhythmic music) - [Announcer] This is a production of PBS Charlotte.

(gentle music) - Just ahead, on "Carolina Impact."

- There are no words to describe what it's like to see a parent's face, when their child has a breakthrough on the back of a horse.

- We'll take you to this Charlotte Area farm, where special-needs patients find healing on horseback, plus, see how a local nonprofit empowers the visually impaired, and we show you how an area hardware store, is about more than just nuts and bolts, it actually brings community together, it's all on tonight's "Carolina impact."

(upbeat vibrant music) Good evening, thanks so much for joining us, I'm Amy Burkett.

Charlotte's high-tech hospitals offer some of the finest care anywhere, right here in the Carolinas, but for children born with disabilities or adults suffering from stress-related disorders, traditional treatment isn't always the answer.

"Carolina Impact's" Jeff Sonier and videographer Doug Stacker, show us a different kind of care at Shining Hope Farms, where they're changing lives with their Horses of Healing.

- Yeah, Shining Hope Farms serves 300 patients a week at three locations.

in Charlotte, Mt.

Holly, and Conover.

It's a program known as Equine Assisted Therapy, using horses as a stress reliever to help adults with psychological problems, and as a teaching tool for children with mobility problems, special-needs patients who saddle up for the health benefits of riding horseback.

(gentle music) - So, Caleb has been coming to see me about a year now.

and when Caleb started, we weren't really walking on our own, we had just started taking some steps on our own.

- [Jeff] For 3-year-old Caleb, what a difference a year makes.

- You know, and he's come a long way with his core strength and his balance.

1, 2, 3, scooch Scooch, good work!

Okay.

Nice step, Caleb.

He's walking on his own, he just started jumping, where he doesn't need hand support and he can do that.

There you go.

- [Jeff] But Physical Therapist Kelly Coney-Pacious says, "Here at Shining Hope Farms, this is what Caleb likes to do most.

- [Kelly] Say, go, Kathy, go.

Let's see if Kathy's hooves go up, say up.

- Caleb learning to walk by learning to ride, with his horse swinging side-to-side, the same way we sway when we walk.

- Oh, he isn't kicked any, look at him go.

They're getting visual flow, they're getting a feel of the horse, the warmth of the horse, you're getting a stretch when you're sitting on the horse, you're having to activate muscles to maintain your position.

You're working on your balance because you have to correct yourself when you go different directions, and the horse moves.

- [Jeff] The movement is gentle, and so is the horse.

For Caleb, small, but tall in the saddle, there's no fear here.

You would think a horse would frighten a child this young, this small.

- No, a lot of times it's really just when they're little, we actually get them on the horse from the ramp He would turn and look at the horse, pet the horse, you know, some days, and he has achieved all of his goals, every time we reassess in the six-month period, so he is making very good progress.

- [Jeff] Caleb's progress measured in every confident little stride, and every horseback ride.

- [Kelly] There you go, good shift!

- There are no words to describe what it's like to see a parent's face when their child has a breakthrough on the back of a horse.

- [Jeff] Patrice Gibson is Director of Development here at Shining Hope Farms, where breaking through is what they do.

- Yeah?

Alright, let's try say ♪ The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout ♪ - [Jeff] Medical professionals at Shining Hope, evaluating the physical and mental problems of every special-needs child, then using their stable of 30 horses on three different farms, to help treat those problems.

- And it's hard when you're in therapy and you're trying to teach a child how to walk that's never walked before, because their body doesn't know what to do, but when you put them on the back of the horse, there's nothing that mimics the human walk, like the three-dimensional gait of the horse, and so their body literally learns how to walk.

(gentle music) It's a magical moment to be a part of that, we witness miracles every single day with these children.

- [Therapist] There we go.

- [Jeff] It's the miracle of hope and healing that families can actually afford.

- We don't charge horse usage fees, there's no out-of-pocket cost other than their copay that they would be paying if they went to a clinic.

Our goal is to help our community, and not just help the children in need in our community, but also help our communities, the people that have served us, we wanna be able to serve those who have served us.

- [Jeff] That's why Shining Hope also welcomes veterans, and first responders to its Horse Therapy Program.

- It's a gentle giant, right here.

- As Army Veteran Kelly Little grooms his horse.

Red for a ride today, it reminds him of summers at his grandfather's home.

- Yeah, so I was sitting on the porch, Mr.

Shaw, who was right next to him, had all these horses, so I was just sitting watching 'em, but never rode, but I always felt connected to 'em - [Jeff] And now after 25 years in the Military, much of it in combat zones overseas.

- [Kelly Little] Losing different brothers, some of the experience I seen while I was over there.

Just, it must go here.

- [Jeff] The horses he saddles up here at Shining Hope Farms are helping Kelly connect again with civilian life.

- And so there's an isolation, and you're coming back, it's not quite the same.

- [Instructor] And you can check 'em again.

- [Kelly Little] The horse showed me that, it was things that I was hiding and that I needed to deal with.

- Insomnia, flashbacks, whatever it is they're dealing with, being around the horse has this calming effect, it really positively affects them, it changes their mood, it changes their stress level, and so we have countless stories of how just being here on the farm has really helped them.

- He listens well, just my pressure with my feet.

We can act like we are healed, but inside, we're suffering, and so this puts you in a position to, like really be at peace because of this experience with this amazing and huge animal, to build that relationship and create feelings of belonging and trust, that in itself, for me, is, you know, you can't explain it, it just happens, and then they choose you.

All right, big guy.

- [Jeff] Why the horse?

- The horse is mysterious and amazing, and there's a lot that I can't explain about the horse, I don't know how to explain how it does what it does, but some of the things that we've seen our patients experience.

- [Kelly] Say, you get to ride the biggest horse there is.

- [Patrice] Bringing them to the farm, they forget that they're doing therapy, because they're riding a horse, and it's fun, and it's different, and it's very motivating, so it changes the entire dynamic, but they're still achieving the same goals, it's really exciting to watch.

(gentle inspirational music) - Patrice Gibson adds that, "Horses of Healing for patients at Shining Hope Farms are also horses of hope for their families, not necessarily a cure-all for everyone."

That's why Shining Hope also offers clinical treatment, but many find that combination of traditional healthcare with therapeutic horseback riding, makes all the difference.

- Thank you, Jeff.

If you wanna know more about Shining Hope Farms, check out the link on our website at pbscharlotte.org, you'll find details on the Equine Assisted Therapy Programs, information on how you can volunteer or donate, plus names and pictures of all those beautiful horses.

Well, every day, organizations across our region, help people turn challenges into new beginnings.

For those living without sight, that journey takes extra strength.

Nearly 7 million Americans live with vision impairment, and one nonprofit is helping them rediscover purpose and possibility.

"Carolina Impact's" Dara Khaalid and Videographer Marcellus Jones, take us inside a place where hope and hard work go hand-in-hand.

(page swishing) - [Dara] Lights off... - [Volunteer] Alright, you and go ahead and put your blindfolds on.

- [Dara] Blindfolds on... - Go ahead, and we eat, we start, - [Dara] And it's time for this group to eat breakfast, without relying on their eyesight.

- I thought it would be good experience to come and try and eat breakfast, you know, blind, and kind of step into the shoes of someone who, you know, doesn't have perfect vision like myself.

- [Dara] It's an eye-opening experience for these folks attending the nonprofit Lion Services', Breakfast in the Dark, as they use their other senses to peel oranges, and feel around their plates for blueberries.

- [Matthew] That's something that we take for granted, is wake up and we have it, and we can see perfectly, we can hear great, and, you know, one day that can go.

- [Dara] Lion Services holds the quarterly event to give sighted people a chance to really understand the daily challenges the blind and visually impaired face, whether that's eating breakfast or working.

Since 1935, the nonprofit has been doing exactly what their motto says, "Helping the blind help themselves through employment."

Out of its 270 employees, 120 of them, including Raven Joiner, have a visual impairment.

- Prior to me having vision loss, I would not touch a sewing machine.

It was difficult, it was challenging at first, but something in me wanted me to learn how to do it.

- [Dara] Throughout the warehouse, there are five different departments where workers create textile products for the US Department of Defense, you'll see them assembling camelbaks, the backpack soldiers use to carry water and other essentials, plus.

This is a helmet beam, and here, one, the actual band, there are two flares and it's for our Military servants, when they're in the field, they, at nighttime, you can see these flares light up.

All throughout the building, you'll find these yellow tactile mobility strips.

Now, the whole point of these are to help guide employees as they navigate throughout the building, and these are just one of the many accommodations made for employees.

Other accommodations include this guide on Raven's machine, she makes about 200 to 300 helmet bands a day, and this helps her get them in the correct form.

(upbeat whistling music) - And I place it down here at the top, and I can bring this sticker up, even the sticker has a place on the machine that makes it easy to fold, and, sha-boom, there it is.

- [Dara] Once having a successful career as an event planner, this isn't the job Raven ever saw for herself, but a diagnosis in 2021, forced her to pivot.

- It began with my vision, just became a little bit blurry, and from there, it just became more blurred and more blurred, I remember driving and not being able to see the traffic lights until I got close enough to see them, it was kind of just like someone started dimming the lights.

- [Dara] She didn't know it at the time, but she was battling diabetic retinopathy, which is a complication people with diabetes can have that affects their eyes.

In Raven's case, she have total blindness, so she can still see light, but she is legally blind, which means she doesn't get to see precious moments anymore.

- The hardest part, I would say, is feeling as if I'm missing out on seeing my children grow up.

When I had the diagnosis, I had just gave birth to my second daughter, and I didn't really have a chance to see her fullness, you know, the way that she looked.

I have an idea, but it wasn't, you know, as clear as my first child.

However, I just turned to other ways that I can experience my children.

- [And just how she's had to find new ways to parent... - Yes.

- Well, I'm really enjoying getting into the ambassador work here.

- [Dara] She's also had to find new ways to make friends, but her job at Lion Services provides an environment that makes it easy.

- One of the things that we've heard for the past several years, is how we treat each other with respect, number one, and then number two is, how we want to ensure that everyone is successful.

And I've heard so many people say in the past year, of what a difference the company has made in their life.

- [Dara] Another way the company makes a difference in Raven's life, is by allowing her to be involved with a project that started last year, called the Charlotte Braille Trail.

- The Braille Trail will be an experience through art, large art exhibits, and partnerships throughout our neighborhood.

In addition to that, we are hoping to make this neighborhood the most accessible neighborhood in Charlotte, and maybe even the nation.

- [Dara] Still in the works, and expect it to cost at least $250,000, the Charlotte Braille Trail will be a path through the city that's inclusive for those with visual impairments.

It'll have features like Braille signage, artistic installations, and tactile guides.

- We don't have a lot of access to things, as far as going to a restaurant and it being fully accessible or getting to the light rail to get downtown, the whole idea with the Braille Trail is to just be that path in the middle that connects all of these things.

- [Dara] With each step Raven takes on the concrete path that'll soon be part of the Braille Trail, It uplifts her, Knowing her perspective and involvement will help create a brighter future, not only for herself, but also for everyone else who has to experience life through a different lens.

For "Carolina Impact", I'm Dara Khaalid.

- Thank you, Dara.

The folks at Lions Services tell us.

"They received a grant from the City of Charlotte and are hoping to have the first piece of the project in position by the beginning of next year."

When you think about craft beer, you probably don't think of crafting right alongside it, but a local group, is bringing the two worlds together, one handmade project at a time.

Casual Crafters is all about creativity, connection, and community.

Producer John Branscum shares, how this unique gathering creates real impact.

(water whirling) (water squirting) (rhythmic music) - [John] It's no secret many folks love craft beer, down in Steele Creek, a popular place to sip a pint, is The Casual Pint.

- [Bruce] The Casual Pint's like a community gathering place, we're like the local "Cheers," we like to say, "When you walk in, we know your name."

- [John] Throughout the week, they offer up your typical taproom entertainment.

- We have Trivia on Tuesday nights, live music on Fridays, and karaoke on Friday.

- [John] But come Wednesday evening, that's when things get a bit more crafty than just the craft beer.

- So anyways, you guys, I have this one going.

I'm Sandy Adams, But watch, it's so crazy.

I work in the back of the house here at The Casual Pint.

Tonight I am here as the leader of our Casual Crafters Group, we're talking knitting, crocheting, diamond dot painting, embroidery.

- [John] Adams says, "The inspiration for Casual Crafters came when she learned another crafting group had lost its usual meeting place."

- And it was like, "Well, we could do that, we could have our own little group."

Now, the difference between us and them is, we're drinking wine while we're at it, we're having a little bit of a (laughs) good time.

- [John] The group was exactly what folks like Karen Clark and Tiffany Boberg were looking for.

- We come out, and bring our yarn and our different crafts, and we all have different projects, and we help each other, and socialize, drink.

- There's something about being with people, and there's something about sharing something that you know with someone else, I've been crocheting for 15 years or so, I sit next to someone that's new at it, so I can give her some tips, and I can learn something from someone else.

But it's great to be with people, and not sit and just look at your phone.

- [John] And the added bonus for Tiffany, time with her daughter, Sydney, - It gets her out of the house, it gives her something to do.

she's really good at socializing with all the ladies here too.

- I can just spend time with my mom, and also, it's kind of just like comfortable.

There's a bunch of old ladies here, I mean, [Interviewer] It's a dream.

- and also it's kinda interesting just listening to their like their whole conversations, like, "what?"

Stuff and drama, and stuff, that's really funny.

- [John] Whether a beginner or a pro, everyone here enjoys passing along their skills.

For Adams, that spirit of sharing is deeply tied to her connection with her mother.

- This was something we did together, she was in assisted living towards the end, and she would call me and say, "Oh, I just can't get this right, what am I doing wrong?"

And we'd FaceTime, it kind of was a way for us to connect and stay together.

My mom passed away recently, and this is my way of paying it forward, of teaching what she taught me, and helping people find that creative spark.

- [John] One way she pays it forward.

- I got all of her paraphernalia, all her hooks, all her needles, all her yarn, and that's part of what I use today.

When somebody comes in and they're like, "I don't know, I don't have any materials," they get a hook, they get yarn, they get whatever they need to get going.

(upbeat rhythmic music) - Early on, the ladies of the Casual Crafters knew they wanted to include a bit of community service by creating useful items they could donate.

- The project that we decided to do was a cup holder, and then it's got a strap that goes over an armchair, and then a cell phone holder.

- [John] But to have a bigger impact.

- [Becky] We have The Casual Pint ladies, are here teaching our residents how to crochet.

- [John] They took Casual Crafters on the road to Kempton of Rock Hill.

- They're always having something fun to do, and I wanted to check this out, and it is always good to be learning something new, at my age, (laughs) I just turned 90.

- And some of 'em are new to crochet, and some of them used to crochet, so they're doing something they didn't think they would do before, again, and they're reminiscing, they're laughing, they're just having fun interacting with people, and it's just a lot of fun for them.

- [John] With each chain and stitch, it's obvious here at The Casual Pint, there's something more being crafted.

- Oh my, gosh, I would've never even known any of these ladies.

Like, I wanted to find a group of people, and I found a group of people.

- [John] For Adams, it means even more.

- It's definitely something that I remember doing with my mom, that kind of keeps her a little bit alive for me, especially, now that I'm hoping to carry it on, and teach other people how to do it.

I like to think that mom is here, definitely.

You know, they say that, "They always let you know they're still around."

Mom's finding subtle ways to let me know she's still around, so I really feel her when we're here.

- [John] For "Carolina Impact", I'm John Branscum.

- I think I need to spend some time with those ladies to improve my crocheting skills, thanks so much for sharing that story.

John.

The first visit from the Casual Crafters to Kempton of Rock Hill, was such a success that the ladies have kept it going, even inviting residents to The Casual Pint to share laughs, creativity, and plenty of yarn.

Closing out tonight, in a city that's constantly growing skyward, there's one corner of Charlotte that's held steady for nearly half a century, Blackhawk Hardware nestled inside Park Road Shopping Center, isn't just a hardware store, it's a neighborhood tradition.

From its humble beginnings in the mid-1970s, to its status today as a local landmark, "Carolina Impact's" Chris Clark, shows us how Blackhawk has been built on more than nuts and bolts, it's built on relationships, resilience, and a deep sense of community.

(page swishing) - [Chris] In a city that's constantly building something new, there's one place that feels like it's always been here, even if it started as a warehouse with a porch tacked on the front, Blackhawk Hardware isn't just a store, it's a Charlotte tradition.

- This is the nicest hardware store that I've ever been to.

- [Chris] The instant you step inside, you know this isn't a normal place, and I knew that the moment I asked the owners to introduce themselves.

- My title is Supreme Commander.

- My card says, "Not just the pretty one."

- [Chris] Behind the humor is a story that goes back nearly 50 years.

Long before Blackhawk became a Charlotte staple, it began with a salesman, who just wanted something more.

- I was working for Pitney Bowes selling office equipment.

I was constantly trying to find something to do, kill time, and the guys I worked, with went down to Little Hardware Downtown, and I was just walking around and thinking about going into business for myself.

- [Chris] And as it turns out, he was starting from scratch.

- When I was growing up, I can't ever remember even going to a hardware store, my dad grew up on a farm, and I tell people, "Till I went off to college, I didn't realize there were people that actually came to your house and fixed stuff."

- [Chris] So Jim did what restless dreamers do, he opened a hardware store anyway.

January, 1977, a borrowed building, a front porch, and a lot of faith.

When his wife Barbara joined the mission, she turned the aisles into opportunity, carving out unique niches that kept customers coming back.

- Women would come in, walk around, and say, "I love a hardware store," and then walk out, and to figure something to keep 'em in the store a little bit, and my wife used to watch Julia Childs - Bon appétit!

- And I said, "Well, what if we open a kitchen shop?"

- [Chris] Barbara's Kitchen Shop changed that overnight, proof that the right idea and the right cookware could change a business.

Next, came cabinet hardware, a few extra feet of display, became an empire of 1,001 knobs, a campaign so clever, even competitors sent their customers here.

- It's actually amazing how far customers come to buy door hardware and cabinet hardware from us, because where else do you walk into and see 5 or 6,000 door knobs and cabinet knobs on display, and have access to a couple of hundred thousand more?

(popcorn popping) (machine tooting) - [Chris] Then came the idea that filled the place with laughter and the smell of butter.

- A couple of guys from Richmond and they had like four stores, I asked him about the popcorn, and he said, "Well, my nephews kept coming in, they kept telling their dad, they want to go see Uncle Bobby, "I wanna go see Uncle Bobby.'"

And he said, " I figured out after a while, they didn't care about me, they wanted popcorn."

- [Chris] While other stores spent thousands chasing the perfect scent, Blackhawk went old-school with popcorn, free and fresh all day.

- It's absolutely phenomenal.

- You can smell it all the way up there at Jenny's, across the Firestone, you see the trail all the way up to Harris Teeter.

- [Chris] he popcorn drew people in, but the dogs sealed the deal.

- You wanna be interviewed?

There's the camera.

This is Nacho, and the one down here is Scout.

- [Chris] Blackhawk became Charlotte's most dog-friendly hangout, with treats, wagging tails, and even a wash station.

(dog growling) (water squirting) - Sometimes, there is a line, and most of the time there is not.

The line is usually on a Friday or a Saturday.

(laughs) - [Chris] And in case you think it's all fun and fur, look up.

(dinosaur roaring) - A lot of it, is just looking at things differently, and just wanting to be entertained yourself.

If you buy so much from a particular vendor, they'll give you an animal.

We were sitting there going, "Well, we can't spare 15 feet of retail for a T-Rex."

And my General Manager, he goes, "Well, you can put it on top of an aisle or something."

And I was looking at him going, "If you do that, you might as well hang it from the ceiling."

(laughs) And lo and behold, we have a 15 foot T-Rex hanging from the ceiling.

- [Chris] But beneath the whimsy, is precision, take the Paint Department, for example.

- Who wants to hear, have a conversation when there's a paint shaker going next to you, like, you know, rattling your teeth out, so we put it in the back room.

- [Chris] Blackhawk has a way of making things feel special, and for customers, it's become a holiday traditional all of its own.

- I have a friend, and we have gone to the Southern Christmas Show for years, - [Chris] Wow!

- and she's getting a little frail.

Last year, she said, "I'll tell you what, let's do."

She says, "Let's not go to the Christmas Show this year, let's go to Blackhawk."

(laughs) - [Chris] You know when the Visitors Bureau starts recommending you, you've made it.

- She was saying, "Oh, we tell people to come to Blackhawk from the Visitors Bureau."

And I'm thinking, "There's not a lot to do in Charlotte."

- [Chris] Because Blackhawk isn't just where you buy things, it's where people feel they belong.

- When we were interviewing someone, we just think, "Hey, would I like to have lunch with this person for the next five years?"

If the answer's, "Yes," okay, they'll be good.

- We're like a family here, I wouldn't really be here without them.

- It's a culmination of doing 1,000 things, 1% better, not one thing 1,000% better.

- [Chris] At Blackhawk Hardware, it's never just nuts and bolts, it's neighbors, laughter, and almost 50 years of Charlotte charm.

For "Carolina Impact:, I'm Chris Clark.

- Thank you, Chris.

Almost half a century later, Blackhawk Hardware is still family, still community, and still Charlotte, proof that sometimes, the best business plan is doing right by the people, right outside your door.

Well, we'd love to learn about the amazing stories across our region, that you think deserve some attention, please, email the details to stories@wtvi.org.

We might be able to spotlight them on a future "Carolina Impact."

Well, before we go this evening, I have to say thank you to my neighbors, from Carolina Orchards, in Fort Mill, South Carolina, came up to be part of our audience today, they were amazing, with really good questions, they tried to stump me, and they did a pretty good job.

That's all the time we have this evening, thanks so much for joining us, we always appreciate your time, and I look forward to seeing you back here again next time, on "Carolina Impact."

Good night, my friends!

(upbeat vibrant music) (page swishing) (upbeat vibrant music) (gentle music) (upbeat rhythmic music) - [Announcer] This is a production of PBS Charlotte.

(rhythmic music)