This week we are going to do something different. Instead of honoring one person, Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds would like to thank everyone who helped us before and after Hurricane Irma hit the state of Florida and impacted our lives.
We are forever grateful to every person who lent a hand to help us prepare for the storm. There was so much to be done! All outside furniture, jumps, buckets, etc. had to be stored so they would not become flying projectiles during the hurricane.
There was work to be done inside the barn such as removing all fans from each horse’s stall, securing rakes, brooms, wheelbarrows, and grooming supplies. We also had much to do to secure our satellite property on Rector Road.
And of course, there were the horses! Each horse had the owner’s telephone number written on its side with a livestock crayon to identify the horse in case they got loose during the storm. Almost all horses were paired with a buddy in the pasture to ride out the storm. Careful thought went into each decision so that every horse would be as safe as possible.
Hurricane Irma may have sent a lot of rain our way, but she could not dampen our spirits! After the storm, so many people came out to check on the horses, get the barn and property back in order, and offer assistance to volunteers who were without water or electricity. The outpouring of love and support was appreciated and inspirational.
We often say, “that HART has HeART” and there is no truer statement. Our volunteers, boarders, and personnel go beyond what is required and give of themselves in such selfless ways. We are more than friends-we are family and that solidarity has been shown once again. And so, this week we say, “Thank You” to EVERYONE who is a part of our family.
Next week we will get back to highlighting one special volunteer. We at HART greatly value our volunteer help. Without these dedicated individuals, we would be unable to provide our services to the public. If you would like to volunteer, we’d love to have you here with us as a part of our HART family. No prior horse experience is necessary. Please feel free to call or text Donna Manfredi at 847-989-4248 or email her at: donna.manfredi@hartforhorses.org for more information regarding our volunteer program.
If you would like to nominate a deserving volunteer, please send an email to Nancy Boffo at: nancy.boffo@hartforhorses.org and explain why you think that person should be the Volunteer of the Week. A committee will pick the person and it will be announced weekly on our website blog and Facebook pages.
If you have any questions please feel free to call or text Nancy at 321-693-7213. And the next time you are at Port St. Java please be sure to thank them for supporting HART and this program!