Help Get Solace Farms Off The Ground

Hi, my name is Andrea Hilborn. For over 25 years, I have had the dream of opening a place where women can come and refill their emotional bucket while raising each other up. So many of us spend our days taking care of others and putting our own needs second (maybe even third). We have self-imposed guilt if we take time for ourselves. It is time to change our mental monologue.

Solace Farms Day Retreat, located in Chester Springs, Pa. is a place to come to reconnect with oneself, learn, heal and support one another. Whether you are a parent in need of an hour to catch your breath, you’re someone new to the area and don’t know anyone yet, or maybe you are going through a hard time such as a divorce or heath of a loved one, Solace Farms is here for you. The situations may differ but the outcome is the same. We need a place of love and support.

Recently, I had a 85 year old woman tell me that she was tired of only hanging around “old people” at the local Senior Center. There is no place for them to go and connect with others. Imagine what gifts these same seniors can give to the younger generations if they had a place to do so.

I’ve had women tell me they wish they had this while they were taking care of their sick family member. Someone just posted on social media that she was looking for a place to just sit and read. This is Solace Farms at its core.

About me…

I am a single mom of a pretty great teenage son. 6 years ago, I left an unhealthy marriage and put myself back in school to learn massage therapy. We live in a simple apartment and I do my best to give him the life he deserves. One year ago, I opened my own massage practice inside the building that I hoped to buy for the purpose of opening Solace Farms. After my home bills are paid, all the rest of my money has gone into purchasing the BEAUTIFUL but old Victorian home for the purpose of Solace Farms. It was a miracle that I was able to find a bank willing see my vision and offer funding even though my income is less than $50,000 a year. My passion for Solace Farms and the need for it won them over.

What Solace Farms will offer…

Solace Farms, as I mentioned above is a place to refill your emotional bucket. We will offer yoga, meditation, support groups, and seminars for health and healing. We support our LGBTQ community and will offer programs to raise awareness and offer support. Also, I am a Black Belt in the martial arts and will be teaching various types of self defense classes. Our services will be dictated by what is requested by those that attend.

I need to clarify. Solace Farms, while geared towards helping women is not exclusive. We are here to help anyone that needs a place to catch their breath. No one is turned away. I consider us a “grassroots” project that will serve to help all those in my community.

Why I need help…

After almost a year of trying to move the process forward, I was scheduled to close at the end of November, 2021. It was a long process since Covid pushed everything back with the SBA loan office. I was thrilled to finally have a date to settle only to realize 3 weeks before closing that the banks neglected to add in start up capital to my loan. When I brought this up, they said that they would not fund any more money and it was up to me handle the rest. With so much already invested, along with the knowledge that I would lose all the money that I put into appraisals and down-payments and closing costs, and not to mention the dream of Solace Farm ending, I went to closing and have sunk every last dime I have so far into renovating the property. Opening a business is not cheap. I have relied heavily on volunteers to offer classes and organize the behind-the-scene activity. I simply do not have the money to pay them until doors open.

The money raised will be used to fix up the property and pay my staff. If my goal is exceeded, I will be able to put in an ADA compliant bathroom, repair the turret, and remove the many unsafe trees that line the property. All that was appraised for $50,000. A lofty goal, I know.

How you can help…

I have always prided myself on being an independent woman that rarely asks for help. I am asking now. The bills are racking up and with Covid rearing its ugly head again, I am losing clients at my massage business that normally I would use to purchase things like furniture, electronics, office supplies and signage. I depleted most of my savings already and the items that would normally be rolled into my loan as start up capital are still needed. I do not regret moving forward with the closing on the property. Solace Farms is NEEDED. I just need to rely on the kindness of strangers to help get off the ground. I pray you see the need for Solace Farms Day Retreat and kindly donate in order for us to offer some much needed support to those that seek it out. Thank you.