By Terri Sterling
Appel Farm has a summer camp, arts academy, and a music festival in a country setting in Southern New Jersey! Save June 5th and come to their great festival, which features the Avett Brothers, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Enter the Haggis, Richard Shindell, 61 North, and Patty Griffin with special guest Buddy Miller. The Appel Farm staff describes it as “An entertaining day of music, crafts and children’s activities in a beautiful country setting!’
Dee Billia, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations, is excited about their festival and is grateful for their volunteers who really make a difference in the lives of children, teens, and families by providing services to help the festival succeed every year. There is one volunteer that really stands out because no matter what they need help with he manages to due it.
Kirk Borodaeff is a trained electrician but will help out with anything that needs to be done including putting up the fence for the festival. This would be a physically intensive task, for anyone to engage in, but what makes Kirk special is that he does it from the seat of his wheelchair and never says “no” or decides that he can’t do something. He helps put up the fence posts and fence every year and never complains that he can’t do it. Kirk helps out with the electrical needs of the festival. Kirk says “If I can do it, I will do it on my own.” He has been volunteering for 8 years and never shies away from any tasks. Kirk feels the Appel Farm family is a big part of his family. You see Kirk did not have a disability when he started volunteering at Appel Farm but he became a “double amputee” after he started working there. The staff was supportive of him and didn’t shy away from him, so he kept showing up and helping out. He stated “in a lot of respects they are like family. They all go out of their way to help each other out.” The Appel Farm staff appreciates his work, have not stopped him from helping out, and do not see him as having limits. Appel Farm is a place where you can be accepted and become part of the family.
Kirk is enthusiastic about the festival and says it is a “Mini Woodstock when they have the concerts out there”. He believes “your belongings will be safe” and you can spend the whole day at the upcoming festival with fantastic bands that will entertain you all day long. Kirk wishes more people would become involved in the art center and wants you to come out and see the festival. He is an amazing person who likes to joke with his co-workers and staff at Appel Farm. When you go to the festival make sure you stop by and meet Kirk. We are all lucky to have a remarkable person like Kirk in our lives and on our team.
For more information contact Apple Farm at (856) 358-2472 or www.appelfarm.org
