Farm provides healing, comfort, joy
Who are we?
Fellinlove Farm is a 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity family farm designed to improve our guests' quality of life by providing dynamic experiences for all ages and abilities through;
~hands on interactions with our diverse animals
~socialization and educational opportunities
~outdoor discoveries of nature in a serene setting
Guests describe the farm as fun, peaceful, and healing! A place to breathe in fresh air, unwind, and see happy animals at play! Come visit and experience it for yourself.
***See a list of our diverse animals below!
What have we done already?
Over the past six years, we have hosted thousands of children and adults at our farm at no cost or charge to any individual or group. However, we have made the decision to function as a non profit organization in our hope and effort to reach more people and provide improved services throughout the calendar year.
Click here and come along on this field trip of 3 classes:
http://fox17online.com/2016/10/10/west-michigan-mom-turns-farm-into-field-trip-destination/
another recent field trip:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ar5lmTf1upqar6ZQKm0DLBGMc23Vg1Ta/view
Click here to see 5 more examples of Fellinlove Farm's impact in West Michigan
Various events include:
~Field trips for schools, including: Early Childhood Special Education, Head Start, state-funded preschools/GSRP, Severe Multiple Impairments classrooms, kindergarten/elementary classrooms, homeschool families, and daycare
~Tours for: adult care center residents, individual families, young adults with unique needs
~Farm parties: donated to auction benefits for local charities(Center for Women in Transition, Renew Therapeutic Riding Center, Families in need, and others)
~Support group picnics, such as: Mended Little Hearts, Arbor Circle, Adoptive Family Support Network, others
~Seasonal open house/farm events: Easter Egg Hunt, Annual Prom for young adults with unique needs, Jasper's (horse) Birthday Party, Neighborhood Summer Celebration, Fall Fun at Fellinlove Farm, Mini Nativity Experience
What are we raising money for?
***One of the owners recently lost her job (the main source of farm animal care funding) which has prompted this request.
For both immediate and long term costs to maintain the farm and to continue offering social, educational, therapeutic, and recreational opportunities at the farm.
The donations would enable us to provide increases in:
~Education: Care of animals, breed facts, inquiry based learning, developmentally appropriate lessons, brief individualized riding lessons, understanding of animals and their natural habitats
~Development of Facilities: Shelters/barn, pasture, classroom, indoor large work space, constructing 1/3 acre pond for water activities, and currently we are building a pig barn totaling in over $6000.00 in costs
~Maintenence: Maintenence of current facilities and animal care
~Animal Training: Train horses and other animals,
pony rides, lessons, entertainment, cart/driving/sleigh rides
~Public Relations: To expand outreach services with distribution of farm information through brochures and other media and to achieve non-profit status
Immediate goal! We now have three mini pigs at Fellinlove Farm who desperately need a pig house of their own before another winter begins. The pigs also need to get exercise. The vision we hope to make a reality is to have a 12x16 barn and a fence around it just for the three pigs! We need to raise $6000.00 to cover the cost of the barn and fence (which will be a playyard in which guests can visit them). We also need two shelters for mini horses/donkeys pasture and mini zebu cattle pasture when they live outside during the day. (2 x $2000 per shelter)
Why is this so meaningful to us?
As a group of volunteers at Fellinlove Farm, we share in the joy of creating lasting impressions in hearts and minds of people of all ages and abilities.
For the past few year of hosting events, we have never charged a fee to those who attend events at the farm. All farm expenses totaling thousands each month have been provided by the owners of the farm. The cost of providing services on the farm continues to rise.
Each donation (no matter the amount) really does make a difference and will enable us to maintain and increase the quality experiences we provide to so many children and adults who truly need healing, comfort, peace, and enjoyment.
We are so grateful for every donation and gift provided, small or large. It all leads to making a greater impact in the community we serve.
Giving comes in many forms, such as time, talents, or treasures. Give a gift that feels right for you. We're always in need of food supplies for all the animals, paper towel, volunteers to do farm work and help with events, and of course any talents that help nonprofits thrive like development, marketing, photography, videography, website design, fundraising in creative ways, etc!
~The Fellinlove Farm volunteers (a.k.a. the Fellinlove Farm-ers)
***A list of our amazing animals!
Fell ponies, full size horses, miniature horses, miniature donkeys, miniature llamas, miniature African zebu/cattle, kunekune pigs, miniature pigs, Nigerian dwarf goats, 1 Nubian goat, rabbits, ducks, chickens, dogs(8 Dachshunds; 2 Great Pyrenees), barn cats, leopard tortoise, chinchillas, degus, hedgehog, guinea pigs, hamster, 20 large koi fish in 13,000 gallon pond, etc.
