Word that the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In will return was good news for two local charities that are supported by the annual car show 鈥� Valley Therapeutic Equestrian Association (VTEA) , the 91原创 Community Support Groups Society 鈥� and all the people they help.

Lynn Moseley, VTEA director, said the Aldergrove-based non-profit organization has been busy during the pandemic, adding new services while modifying their existing programs.

鈥淪ince COVID hit, we have been focusing on mental health challenges,鈥� Moseley explained. 鈥淲e pivoted to offering different therapies including counselling and equine-assisted learning.鈥�

Located at 256th Street, just south of the Fraser Highway, the VTEA has been providing therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy treatments since 1983.

While VTEA has managed to weather the storm created by the pandemic 鈥渟o far,鈥� Moseley said the financial support provided by Cruise-In through the years has made a huge difference.

READ ALSO: Lower Mainlanders suffering from grief or anxiety can sign up for horse-riding therapy

鈥淓ven though we are primarily a volunteer organization, running an equine centre is costly,鈥� Moseley elaborated.

鈥淲ithout donors like them [Cruise-In], it would be very hard for us to deliver the services we do. We鈥檙e so appreciative and we certainly missed not being a part of the event last year. We also like to participate and help them out.鈥�

The funds donated to VTEA go towards their various equine-assisted therapeutic programs, and in turn, to those we serve in the community, Moseley elaborated.

鈥淭o say we are incredibly thankful for their generous support over the many years is an understatement. We can鈥檛 wait to participate in their next event 鈥� we look forward to it every year.鈥�

Help is always welcome and if anyone wishes to contribute or learn more about VTEA, they can visit .

READ ALSO: There鈥檚 still Hope After Stroke during COVID-19

91原创 Community Support Groups Society operates Hope After Stroke groups for local stroke survivors and relies heavily on donations from the annual 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In.

It has operated a program at the Walnut Grove Community Centre for more than 25 years, and founder and executive director Marilyn Piticco said she is beyond grateful Cruise-In is going ahead.

COVID-19 shut down most of her in-person services and left Piticco scrambling for funding to keep the service going.

鈥淲e have been so fortunate and we wouldn鈥檛 be able to keep our doors open without their support,鈥� Piticco said, pointing to Cruise-In. 鈥淲e believe and they believe in the program.鈥�

Piticco鈥檚 non-profit aims to offer counselling services and programs for stroke survivors.

鈥淐ruise-In has supported us for well over 10 years,鈥� she noted.

Resources for the Hope after Stroke program can be found at . People can also contact Pititcco by phone at (604) 882-4672.

Since its inception in 1997, Cruise-In has contributed more than $1.3 million to local causes.

Cruise-In also allows a variety of local service clubs and groups to run concessions during the car show so they can also raise funds.

鈥� with files from Ryan Uytdewilligen