Help Jacob Climb His Ladder

A revered high school teacher and mentor, Jacob recently purchased an eight-acre mini farm. (Come to find out, "mini farm" is an oxymoron!) Out of the goodness of his heart, along with the property, which included a one-bathroom, 1940s farmhouse, Jacob—animal lover that he is—generously agreed to take on the eight miniature Mediterranean donkeys, two goats, ten chickens and rooster that were written into the final deal—animals that would have otherwise had to have been uprooted and rehomed or worse. Much to his disappointment, the two Great Pyrenees dogs and guardians of the goats were not included, so in addition to taking on the menagerie of aforementioned animals, he had to get two comparable dogs fast so as to ensure the safety of the goats. In addition to attending to the endless seen and unforeseen repairs that come with a 1940s farmhouse in disrepair and in dire need of TLC, the donkeys’ hoofs needed tending to and three male donkeys would need to be castrated to avoid further inbreeding. He would also have to get enough hay to sustain them through the winter. Nights, the free-range chickens by day were forced to roost in a much too small chicken coop, designed for chicks. Luckily, Jacob’s skills as a woodturner were put to the test, and he built them a beautiful, mansion of a coop by comparison! Meanwhile, five chicks hatched and because of his intervention four of the five survived and thrived; for these fortunate four, he purchased a stable coop to house them until they are big enough to fend for themselves and, potentially, join the flock from which they hailed. Not only did Jacob not want to uproot the animals, he did not want to demolish the 1940s farmhouse; instead, he vowed to carry on the legacy of this sweet space. All that to say, Jacob, a gentle giant, has come to love his newly acquired animals and has been blessed to recruit the help of Fran from a nearby donkey sanctuary and a farrier who calls himself “Chief,” not to mention a woman who has long loved the eight donkeys and has affectionately and secretly (up until now, I suppose!) been known as The Donkey Lady and whom we have learned is actually The World’s Greatest Donkey Whisperer! The costs incurred between caring for so many animals and the mounting costs of restoring the one-bathroom house to fully functional and safe continue to mount. Please give what you can. Any amount will be greatly appreciated and go to a man and a cause that he sees as much bigger and farther reaching than himself. Meanwhile, Jacob, a natural host, looks forward to entertaining friends, family, extended family and community members so that he might share this sweet spot graced with the sweet animals that have endeared themselves to him. In fact, he hopes to start an Adopt a Donkey program that will encourage children and adults to share in the sacred experience that comes with interacting with such majestic creatures! Jacob is one of the most loving and giving individuals you will meet and would never think of asking others for monetary help in such endeavors, but isn’t that what friends are for? Thank you in advance for your contribution.