Restore Hope for Lauren and HodgePodge Farm

In August 1994, Lauren and I were awkward 17-year-olds sitting in our college advisor's office during orientation. We were first-year students in Animal Science at Cornell University, and all the weird horse girls were assigned to the same advisor. We grew closer until we became inseparable sisters that shared a brain.

Lauren chased her horse dream and built a rescue where she lived in TX. She rescued and rehabilitated so many lives, and many of them are permanent residents of HodgePodge Farm and Rescue. She and her family moved the rescue north to NY last year (almost exactly a year ago). They had to clear land and build fences and run-ins, and all the residents had settled into a contented life in Elmira, NY. There wasn't a horse barn on the property, but they were managing with a gorgeous century-plus-old farm barn. And then on May 26, it was consumed in flames. They lost a pallet of feed, all their halters, all their lead ropes, all their blankets, sheets, and every piece of horse care equipment. And that is just the animal supplies.

Lauren said to me: "I can't even begin to put a number on what we lost. So many things we can't ever replace. Every physical photo from my whole life. Every book. Both wedding dresses. Every single pair of my shoes except the 4 casual, everyday ones I had in the house. The last sweater Grandma Leah made me. Every single one of my Breyer horses. All our holiday decorations including the ornaments I bought on every trip and family activity we took or did." She is being hit by waves of grief for the loss, and relief that all the animals are safe, and gratitude for the first responders, and despair as she faces the recovery.