CNA Stores Customers Lead the Way (Once Again) in Giving

At CNA Stores, we’ve always believed that cannabis is about more than products on the shelf—it’s about people, community, and the impact we can create together. Since opening our doors in Amesbury and Haverhill, we’ve seen firsthand how much generosity flows through our customers. Each month, through our Charity Jar program, thousands of small acts of kindness add up to make an extraordinary difference for local nonprofits.

From rounding up change at checkout to adding a few extra dollars to a purchase, CNA customers consistently show that they care about more than cannabis. They care about families in need, local causes that strengthen neighborhoods, and organizations that lift people up in times of challenge. These acts of giving aren’t corporate donations—they come from everyday people who want to leave their community better than they found it.

Over the years, these contributions have supported incredible organizations across the North Shore and Merrimack Valley. And now, our focus turns toward another remarkable nonprofit that is changing lives every day: Horses Healing Hearts.

Horses Healing Hearts: A Mission of Wellness and Connection

The mission of this Amesbury-area nonprofit is simple yet profound: to create a safe and welcoming space where people of all ages and backgrounds can experience emotional, social, and behavioral growth. Through innovative Equine-Assisted Services, they use the natural intuition of horses to help participants build confidence, develop life skills, and foster resilience.

Unlike traditional therapy sessions, their programs tap into the unique bond between humans and horses. Horses are prey animals, naturally attuned to their surroundings and highly sensitive to human emotion. This sensitivity allows them to act as mirrors, reflecting feelings and behaviors in ways that help individuals recognize and process their emotions more deeply.

By focusing on connection and experiential learning, participants discover new strengths while building skills that translate into everyday life. Whether it’s a child learning to manage anxiety, an adult navigating life changes, or a veteran rebuilding resilience, the horses are central teachers in this transformative work.

Vision for the Future

The vision of Horses Healing Hearts is to maintain a safe, compassionate environment where people of all abilities can grow alongside horses. They aspire to be a leader in equine-assisted programming, offering innovative approaches that inspire personal growth while strengthening the larger community.

With every program, the organization reinforces the belief that healing happens best when people feel understood, supported, and connected. Their vision extends beyond individual progress—it’s about shaping a healthier, stronger community where everyone has the chance to thrive.

Supporting Veterans and First Responders

One of the most powerful initiatives is Operation Forward Movement, designed specifically for veterans and first responders. These individuals dedicate their lives to service, often facing unique emotional and psychological challenges in the process.

Through equine-assisted activities, they can share experiences in a safe, judgment-free environment. Horses help them explore emotions, manage stress, and rediscover inner strength. Unlike sitting in a classroom or relying solely on medication, these sessions offer practical, long-lasting tools for resilience.

Every lesson learned with a horse becomes a skill participants can use in daily life—whether it’s patience, trust, communication, or emotional regulation. The arena becomes a place of healing, growth, and camaraderie, where participants feel supported by both the horses and each other.

Building Life Skills

Beyond specialized programs, the nonprofit also offers an eight-week series that helps participants of all backgrounds build essential life skills. Each week focuses on a specific quality—such as teamwork, problem-solving, or self-awareness—and builds upon it in the following session.

Because learning with horses is hands-on and deeply memorable, participants often retain these lessons far longer than they would in a traditional classroom setting. The skills they gain—confidence, resilience, empathy, and leadership—translate directly into their daily lives, helping them navigate relationships, responsibilities, and challenges with greater strength.

And while the learning is powerful, the process is also filled with joy. Working with horses creates unforgettable, life-changing moments of connection and growth that participants carry with them long after the program ends.

CNA Stores Customers Fuel Change

At CNA Stores, we’re proud to support nonprofits like Horses Healing Hearts because they reflect our shared values of compassion, service, and community. Just as our customers have shown generosity through the Charity Jar program, their support now helps extend this mission to even more people in need.

Every dollar dropped in the jar, every round-up at checkout, and every act of giving fuels programs that make our region stronger. Together, CNA Stores and our customers are proving that cannabis consumers are also community builders, healers, and changemakers.

Through your giving, lives are being transformed—one horse, one lesson, and one act of kindness at a time.

Learn More About the Mission of Horses Healing Hearts.