Farm Burns: Help Carol Recover

Cynthia Rinehart is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Late October 14th, our 100 year old farmhouse, my mother's home of over 45 years burned to the ground (one week later still smoldering) from an electrical fire. Unfortunately, due to difficult financial circumstances, my mother has no insurance. Although she is so very lucky to be alive, she has only the clothing she walked out with. She does not have her glasses or dentures or any personal items we all take for granted.

Although most people would have "sold out" or moved into an apartment before this, my mother has held a vision of an "intentional community of like-minded souls", a spiritual community, a meditation retreat. She believes this land is sacred as do I. Because of the fire, this dream may need to be shelved while her most immediate needs are met such as clothing, a place to live, paying off debt she owes and property taxes that soon will be due so she doesn't lose the entire piece of property.

There was a quote I caught recently from the movie, "Tomorrowland" that hit home for me. "There are two wolves, darkness and despair, and lightness and hope. Which one will win? The one that you feed." It is my belief that when you let hope die, especially in times of despair, that is when the darkness takes over.

Originally from NYC, Carol Littlebrant of Cole Road, a "Gibbs girl" (as her parents would not allow her to go to college) was transplanted to Buffalo. She eventually graduated summa cum laude in English from University of Buffalo and taught briefly in the Gowanda School District. However, she mostly worked in Human Rights and was an activist or could be seen in Theater in Buffalo or Dunkirk. In addition, she is an avid published writer and classical music could always be heard coming from the farmhouse doors. Carol left her beloved Farm on a nine month , 3700 mile journey across the United States on foot for "The Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament". This truly made an impact on her life.

Carol, my mother has always cared for others more than herself taking care of her mother in her last years as well as two neighbors who had cancer and a close friend who was terminally ill.. She also has a great love and caring for all animals and currently is driving back to her property to still feed and care for the bewildered cats left homeless, as well.

My mom's first words to me the night her house was burning were, "I am ready for the next chapter to begin!" I couldn't help but to think of the closing scene before intermission in "Gone with the Wind" where Scarlet O'Hara picks up a chunk of "Tara" and says, "Tomorrow will be another day!"

Although my mom is 79 and without anything; who are we to say what is possible? Thank you kindly for your prayers, thoughts, and/or financial donation.
Cynthia Rinehart, Carol's daughter