Home and Horse Barn in Danger of Imminent Collapse

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

We are reaching out on behalf of my sister, Michelle, a Marine Corps veteran, and her beloved rescue animals. Anyone who knows my sister knows she is an incredibly hard worker with a heart of gold who has been through so much, and would give anyone in need the shirt off her back. I am asking for your support to help save her home, her horses, and ultimately her life from this catastrophic snowstorm.

Michelle lives alone in Taberg, New York, with her two rescued racehorses, her loyal rescue dog, a rescued cat, and a rescued chicken and rooster. The region is experiencing one of the worst snowstorms since the 1970s, and the situation is critical. Over 63 structures in the area have already collapsed under the weight of the snow, including barns, homes, and even a fire station. Tragically, one of Michelle’s close friends just a couple of miles down the road lost three horses when their barn collapsed in on them. What Michelle saw there haunts her, and she’s terrified the same will happen to her beloved horses.

Two buildings on Michelle’s property—the tack barn and her workshop—have already collapsed, and the snow continues to fall heavily. Her horse barn and even her house are at serious risk. Michelle is devastated, and I'm scared that if her horses die, she won’t be able to continue. She had already endured one of the toughest years of her already tough life, and the emotional toll this is taking on her currently is unimaginable.

The entire community is drowning. We have managed to fly one incredible friend in so far to help her, and they are doing everything they can to dig her out, but the storm is relentless, and the snow is just too much for them to handle on their own. They are exhausted, sick, and running on very little sleep. There’s only so much they can do, and time is running out.

We urgently need your help to raise funds that will bring in people with heavy equipment, like backhoes, to clear the snow away from the buildings so they can have the room to get it off her house and barn before it’s too late. The funds will also help cover some repairs to the structures still standing to ensure they continue to do so, and rebuild what needs to be rebuilt when possible to ensure the animals all have safe and adequate shelter. Funds will also be used to buy hay for the horses as her entire supply was in the second structure that collapsed and unable to be reached.

Michelle has always been there for others, and she gives everything she has to care for the animals she rescues. Now, she’s the one who needs help. Your generous donation can make all the difference in saving her animals, her home, and ultimately, Michelle herself. Every dollar counts, and together, we can make sure she doesn’t lose what matters most.

Please consider donating and sharing this urgent fundraiser. Thank you so much for your kindness, compassion, and support during this life-threatening crisis.

UPDATE: The snow has finally subsided and it looks like the house and horse barn are out of the danger zone!! Yesterday we were able to get the most crucial parts of the property cleared of snow with some heavy equipment, which allowed for the roofs to be partially cleared off, relieving the structures of much weight. A lot more work needs to be done, and hay needs to be procured as her entire supply was lost when the second structure collapsed (we thought we had saved some but it was compromised due to shards when the building imploded), but thanks to all your incredible generosity and to the local men who showed up this weekend despite the terrible conditions, things are looking up!!

Thank you to everyone who contributed and shared, and for all the continuing contributions, we are grateful beyond words. Michelle is currently very sick but wanted me to let everyone know she was incredibly moved by the generosity and couldn't have made it through this without each and everyone of you.