Johanna’s Hope empowers people with different abilities and others to facilitate social connections and creates accessible environments to explore the arts and nature at Jo’s Farm and in the local community.
Jo's Story of Hope
Johanna Benthal is a gifted young adult woman who was born with a rare neurological disease, -CCM3- which causes bleeding and pressure in her brain. She had her first brain surgery at 3 months old and has had over 100 surgeries in 25 years. Despite these challenges and the accompanying disabilities, Johanna lives a joyful and hope-filled life, surrounded by family and friends who support Jo’s endeavors to live this life with grace and purpose.
Jo expresses herself and finds purpose by creating art and by playing and singing music. She has displayed her art and performed on stage at NYU Kimmel Theater in Manhattan and at other venues around the country. Jo has her very own art gallery in her backyard- “Jo’s Cottage” where she creates and displays her art and hangs out with her friends and family. These activities fuel Jo’s desire to inspire others to find their own passion to create art.
In addition to these artistic pursuits, Jo loves to connect with animals and nature. She has a wonderful, certified service dog, Rae, from Canine Companions who helps Jo with daily tasks and alerts us when Jo needs assistance.
During the pandemic, we added chickens, goats and even bees! And Jo’s Farm was born!
Jo shares her farm and her art with others in our local community to bring joy and inspire HOPE.
Objectives & Purpose
The specific objectives and purposes of Johanna’s Hope are:
- to create beautiful art through “Arts on Jo’s Farm” workshops;
- to provide access for people with different abilities to nature, gardening and farm life;
- to connect people with different abilities and their families to local communities to increase awareness, support entrepreneurial pursuits, cultivate compassion and share resources;
- to support people with different abilities and family caregivers by providing respite workshops and retreats;
- to advocate for the needs of people with different abilities and caregivers in healthcare settings;
- to inspire HOPE.
Happy Easter from @johannashopeinc !🌷🌷🌷🌷
Our first day of spring celebration gave a nod to winter as we painted pinecones to create flower bouquets!
Here’s to a new season of HOPE!🌼🌷#abilitynotdisability #disabilityawareness #hopeanchorsthesoul
Happy International Down Syndrome Day to all people who show the world that an extra chromosome makes life extra special for all!
We are especially thankful to @drum_paul_4000 (aka Grand Marshal☘️☘️) for being a special part of our lives and Johanna’s Hope. Love you, Paul!
All the gold and even the ❤️. You’re welcome. #goldenretriever #futureservicedog
My newest column @riverheadlocal features @johannashopeinc and Meyer our eighth puppy- @canineorg. #smallthingsgreatlove ❤️ https://riverheadlocal.com/2024/02/18/when-small-things-can-change-the-world/?fbclid=IwAR3351heXSDLZHsU-rgmgb1UODQAGI1Yx_n85559CuEsEiaCSJe1lNTpsLc_aem_AQ5w0D4eMibo5xwx9jyKAN-8_J7TCF8UoXQIJ8pRWHOFluSVWW4V8OrfgMSBH3Z4Roc
All you need is ❤️❤️ and puppy kisses!
Our first Johanna’s Hope gathering for 2024 was light and bright for our friends who could brave the snow! It made for a sweet Valentine cookie baking and decorating!🌹❤️ so much love and more to come! ❤️#caninecompanions #johannasfarm #hopeanchorsthesoul
Meyer has the right idea offering duckie to the Baby Jesus on this early morning of Christmas Eve.
Oh Holy morning of Holy Eve;
the King comes in a manger
and all creatures bow before Him.
🕊️🦮🦉 🐝🐥🐐🐓
It’s a wrap! We finished our final @johannashopeinc gathering for 2023 @santaschristmastreefarmli with our favorite friend and 🎅(We know him!!!!). It was a beautiful celebration of Christmas and all things light and love for this Holiday season! Special thanks to all the aides and families and volunteers who assist all of us to help make each event safe and fun! A special thank you to @tonisinning and @santaschristmastreefarmli for hosting us and providing heaters, fires and hot chocolate to keep us warm! And to @nofodoco for the donuts that added the extra sweetness to our celebration! A special thank you to Santa who always shows up for @johannashopeinc. We love ❤️ you, 🎅. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All! #disabilityawareness #abilitynotdisability #hopeanchorsthesoul
Farmer Jo was the first one to try out the new cement pad created for her and for all our participants @johannashopeinc. (More on the accessible driveway in an an upcoming post). After a recent surgery and stay this weekend @nyu_neurosurgery, Jo was greeted by all her friends on the farm. 🐓🦮🐐Even Peace- aka Homie the homing pigeon-flew out to say hello from atop Jo’s cottage. 🕊️🕊️It never ceases to amaze me how the farm animals know when Jo’s away and they come near to greet her upon her return. There’s no place like home on Jo’s Farm- especially in this season of HOPE.
#disabilityawareness #abilitynotdisability #hopeanchorsthesoul
We’ve been spreading a little happiness at Jo’s Farm for the past three years as people of all abilities come together to explore nature and build a community of HOPE. Becoming a 501c3 in 2022 helped to reach more friends and inspire more Hope. Your donations during this season of giving allows us to make HOPE accessible to all. Thank you! https://johannashope.org/ #givingtuesday #hopeanchorsthesoul #abilitynotdisability #disabilityawareness
Advent on Jo’s Farm. We wait in in HOPE for miracles every day. #beginningtolookalotlikechristmas #johannashope #hopeanchorsthesoul
This Thanksgiving I am so grateful for the simple beauty of this life. In the midst of sorrows, we find joy. In the pain, there is healing. In the disabilities- there is this great ability to enjoy the simple gifts of life and choose HOPE.
#hopeanchorsthesoul #abilitynotdisability #grateful
This week marks 27 years since Jo’s first brain surgery and diagnosis as a 3 month old baby. Those days were filled with somber prognoses and very little encouragement from the medical community for my daughter’s outcome. But in the midst of it all- we held onto our faith and HOPE anchored our souls to the eternal truth of heaven and the path of miracles.
While some might look at our life and not see the miracles in the face of difficulties and disabilities- I see HOPE- every day! Yesterday was our 3rd Annual Friendsgiving at Jo’s Farm for all our local friends and neighbors from the surrounding area and from @riselifeservices and @maryhavenli . 26 friends, two turkeys, 20 chickens, 4 goats and LOTS of LOVE made for a very special day.
#hopeanchorsthesoul #disabilityawareness #abilitiesnotdisabilities #friendsgiving @sbenthal @sarasp531 @eileenbenthal
If you are a BJ’s club member and you’re going to spend $150 this week- would you consider donating your turkey for our Johanna`s Hope Friendsgiving?
We only need two turkeys for this event which takes place on Wednesday, November 15th.
If more people want to donate turkeys, I will reach out to our neighbors @riselifeservices to be sure residents and participants in their day program get turkeys too.
#thankfulgratefulblessed
Fall on @johannasfarm with all our friends @johannashopeinc. It’s a beautiful day indeed. 🍁🍁🍁 Join us for our second annual Art on the Vines @peconicbayvineyards on Sunday, October 15th from 12-4pm. View and purchase creative art from people of all abilities with our friends from @oneforallgifts .
Link in bio.
Home is the best place to be. Even Peace tge pigeon came to greet Jo.❤️
A cuddly substitute. But not quite as cuddly as Rae. It’s hard doing hospitals and surgeries for anyone- especially for people with disabilities. But well trained and certified service dogs like Rae made it all a little easier to bear. She made the invisible- visible and helped Jo remember better days ahead. Jo’s had too many appointments, hospitalizations and surgeries without her friend by her side. Missing Rae and grateful for @canineorg.
1 more hour!
Follow us @ Johanna’s Hope!
Pulling raffle for a brand new Mother_Clucking_Chicken_Coops!
Thank you for the donation- MCC!!!
Thank you to all who purchased tickets!
There’s still some time to use our special code!
B2G3 !
May the luckiest Mother Clucker win!
🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓
Tickets here:
https://johannashope.org/fundraiser/
Last CHANCE to do the 🐓🐓🐓dance in your own backyard!
LASTDAY FOR RAFFLE to support Johanna’s Hope!
When you enter 3 tickets for $75 and
code: B2G3 you will get a $25 discount.
So Buy2Get3 Today!
(Those who already purchased 2 or more tickets will automatically receive the bonus)
ONLINE RAFFLE
5×6 Chicken Coop from the best chicken coup company ever!
(Delivery anywhere on Long Island Included)
$1,500 Value!
Link in bio!
https://johannashope.org/fundraiser/
It all started 3 years ago with 10 chickens and @mother_cluckin_coops .
We wanted to keep Johanna busy during the shutdowns and have a fun way of building a community who could see beyond the disabilities and appreciate Jo for her individual gifts and talents.
Today Jo’s Farm includes those same 🐓🐓🐓🐓 (plus 6 more and a bigger MCC coop!) along with 4 🐐🐐🐐🐐and two 🐝🐝hives.
Jo’s Farm has become a gathering place for other friends to connect to explore nature and the arts through our nonprofit- @johannashopeinc
The goats and chickens are all integral part of this beautiful community in our own backyard.
To celebrate these achievements and support our nonprofit- Mother Clucking Chicken Coops has graciously donated a brand new chicken coop for us to raffle off!
$25 per ticket/ no more than 100 tickets will be sold.
Drawing will be on Friday, September 1st, 5pm- here on Jo’s Farm.
Purchase your ticket to win a brand new coop ($1500 value includes delivery).
Use THIS link to purchase your ticket online:
https://johannashope.org/fundraiser/ @staceys777s @tonisinning @sarasp531 @jensmithbvi @sbenthal @nofodoco @kellyanne925 @oneforallgifts
We came alive in HOPE! at Jo’s Farm with theater arts and exercise under the tent led by our special guest and friend, Marissa Russo. Thanks @mrusso11 for inspiring creativity and bringing us so much joy.❤️. “Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -#emilydickinson 🪶🪽🌻❤️#disabilityawareness #abilitynotdisability #hopeanchorsthesoul
Happy National Honey Bee day. It’s a good day to celebrate the beekeeping community on the North Fork and @hallockvillemuseumfarm. Thanks to Chris Kelly @promiselandapiaries for introducing us to this community and especially our dear friend @sarasp531. ❤️🐝🐝#heavenlyhoney @johannashopeinc
There were so many special supporters at our 2nd Annual Fundraiser for Johanna’s Hope. Thanks to all the contributors @oneforallgifts, @harborpet @mccallwines @raphaelwine @borghesevineyard @peconicbayvineyards @northforkapothecary @mattituckflorist @thevillagecheeseshop @wendysdelimattituck @maronicuisine @lovelanekitchen @barrowfoodhouse @jthemermaid @diggerspub @beyondbeautifulhairsalon_ @barthspharmacy @thegardensatbandb @jamesport_sourdough @mainroadbiscuitco @abookplace_boutique @oxiux @promiselandapiaries @thenorthforkshack
Our lives became so much sweeter when Chris Kelly of @promiselandapiaries entered in and opened us up to the blessings of the bees. Chris is one of our biggest supporters @johannashopeinc and volunteers his time and treasures to sharing this blessing with Johanna and all her friends. Chris opened our eyes to the blessings all around us and introduced to the wonderful world of bees and our beautiful bee keeper friends. I will always remember one lesson Chris taught us; the bees dance in the dark. Thank you, Chris Kelly @promiselandapiaries for all you do for Johanna and me and all our friends @johannashopeinc.
#beehappy #beehopeful #beeyou 🐝🐝🐝🐝🌻🌻🌻