Help Mary Lou recover from Garage Fire

Hi all Sax-Zim birders/photographers!

I am Sparky Stensaas...a longtime birder in Sax-Zim Bog. I have brought many birding groups to Mary Lou's over the years. She is such an awesome and friendly person. And now she could really use our help.

 

Our friend Mary Lou of "Lou's feeders" (aka "the Evening Grosbeak Lady") had a traumatic fire this early morning (Dec 5). Her garage completely burned down in an intense fire. Her car was destroyed, as well as all but one of her chickens. ALL her stored bird seed was destroyed as well as the porta-potty that we have all come to depend on.

The heat was so intense that it melted some of the siding on her nearby house, and cracked some windows.

 

Mary Lou has insurance but as we all know, there are many things that insurance won't cover. She definitely wants to replace the seed as soon as possible. She'd also like to have the Porta-Potty for all the visitors to use. And there will be other expenses associated with making her garage area birder-friendly.

 

So many of you have already reached out to see how we all can help.

 

We have set a goal of $5,000 but any amount will help.

Thank you all for your contribution!

 

PS Mary Lou still wants birders/photographers to come and enjoy her feeders.

[Sparky Stensaas is the founder and Executive Director of Friends of Sax-Zim Bog. He lives just south of the Bog in Carlton County. Sparky has been friends with Mary Lou for years. Mary Lou has been welcoming birders to her yard in Sax-Zim to view her feeders for years. She has been awarded several "Good Neighbor Grants" from Friends of Sax-Zim Bog. Sparky and Mark Johnson of FOSZB built Mary Lou a photo blind a few years ago.
Mary Lou will use the funds to replace and improve her garage, replace the heated porta-potty that so many of us used on cold winter days, replace the bird seed that was burned up in the fire, and other property improvements that make her yard such a visitor favorite in Sax-Zim. ALL (100%) of funds raised via this gofundme campaign will be sent to Mary Lou via check (or delivered in person) as a gift from Friends of Sax-Zim Bog]