Crisis Relief for Bentley Family (Forever Farm)
Donation protected
Update:
Thank you so much for the donations that we have received to date. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and your contributions big and small they will all add up to helping Tracy and Dwayn rebuild their livelihoods and their lives. As many of you know Tracy and Dwayn have hearts of gold, they have opened their hearts and homes to many a wayward sole and have dedicated their lives to raising their three grandchildren and their three daughters Jessica (passed), Brooke, and Jamie.
We are new to GOFUNDME as we haven’t had to put out a widespread call for help before. Sorry if there has been some confusion. Thank you for visiting the page and please know that any level of contribution big or small will help our family to rebuild. The family would like to Thank Kelli and Troy Seidle for getting this initiative started. Tracy’s mom Marlene Wynnyk and sisters Tammie, Shawna and Rebecca are so thankful for the contributions of our family and friends. We would like to clarify that the money is being held in trust by Tammie and that as the funds grow we will be prioritizing these resources to rebuild the basic necessities of rural living:
1. Clean and secure drinking water
- The gravity fed water system supplied water to 4 homes
- We have a quote from JR. Drilling who has graciously reduced their fees for the establishment -THANK YOU JR. DRILLING
- We are coordinating with them for the drilling of the wells at a cost of $29,000.00 and this work will be done as soon as the area is safe to enter
- This will ensure that there is safe drinking water available and further investment will be needed for the pumps and building the infrastructure to get the water to the house
- The wells will supply water to Lola Bentley (Dwayn’s mom) and Dawn Bentley (Dwayn’s sister and to the main farmhouse that Tracy/Dwayn and the family live in.
2. Re-establishment of their farm livelihood.
- The Adams Lake fire has taken away the Bentley family’s livelihood, they have no means to make money because of the mill site being destroyed.
- To re-establish a small mill as a foundation it will cost upwards of $50,000.00
We would also like to clarify that everything except for the house has been destroyed by the fire and that unfortunately the gravity-fed water system, many outbuildings, winter feed (hay), farm equipment and the family mill were not insured. Some may cast judgment on this fact, but it remains their reality as a caring and loving family that has a very long road ahead of them.
The fire situation also remains very Active and Dwayn as a volunteer firefighter with the Celista Hall is back in the evacuated fire zone working to protect the community from further losses.
Thank you for your help.
Marlene Wynnyk (Tracy’s mom)
Tammie Sangster Deratnay (sister)
Shawna LaRade (sister)
And Kelli (family friend and animal lover)
On August 18, 2023, Tracy and Dwayn Bentley and their family fled and lost their homestead, livelihood, place of work and beloved animal sanctuary, when the most devastating Adams Lake wildfires in Canadian history reached Celista, BC.
As the flames approached, the family rushed to evacuate – but not without their animals. Tracy and family worked tirelessly and creatively to make sure that their animals came with them. They travelled to safety with more than 100 animals in their care, including chickens, roosters, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats, llamas, pigs, cats, a mouse, and even a raven.
Fortunately, everyone made it out and are currently safe in the remote community of Seymour Arm. However, the family’s losses have been overwhelming, especially since there was no insurance coverage for the Farm equipment and machinery, farm buildings and barns plus the feed and stock and the gravity-fed water system.
- The family-owned, run and operated mill which provided the family’s main source of income has been destroyed by the fire. There was no insurance on the many valuable heavy mill equipment.
- Their daughter’s house, workshop, 4 animal barns and 2 hay barns full of winter feed for the animals were all destroyed by the fire.
In addition:
- Over 10 kilometers of fencing for the cows and other animals were destroyed by the fire.
- The property’s only water system and supply had been destroyed by the fire. This water system is vital as it not only provided water for Tracy and Dwayn’s family but also for Dwayn's mother and sisters. They all relied on a gravity-fed surface water system. The fire not only destroyed the water system but also there will be long-term impacts on water quality through contaminants and runoff.
For over 25 years, Tracy Bentley and her family have provided refuge and a forever home and sanctuary to hundreds of neglected or abandoned farm animals who had nowhere else to live. Fittingly named “Forever Farm,” Tracy’s labor of love was a paradise, not only for rescued animals but also for her children and grandchildren, who had the opportunity to grow up surrounded by nature, inspiring their deep respect for animals and the environment. If that wasn’t enough, Forever Farm has been funded entirely out-of-pocket by the kind-hearted, hard-working, and caring Bentley family.
Now, Tracy and her family are the ones who could use some help – to work, feed and house themselves and the 100 animals in their care – and begin to recover and rebuild from the Adams Lake wildfire devastation which is the worst on Canadian record.
Thanks for all your thoughts, love and support!!
More Images of the family and farm below:
Thank you for your support in helping this family and their animals get back on their feet! The funds will be used to replace the water system, mill equipment and machinery, winter feed, fencing and for a foundation to rebuild their infrastructure.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kelli Leizer
Organizer
Celista, BC
Tammie Sangster Deratnay
Beneficiary