Volunteers Help Farm Animals and Owners Impacted by April Tornadoes
A small group of volunteers in Hamilton and Bradley counties have been working hard to support small farms and landowners who were impacted by the recent tornadoes. The volunteers have diligently collected and delivered supplies like hay, grain, fencing and barbed wire to support the local equestrian and farming community.
So far, volunteers have worked daily with farms in East Brainerd, Ooltewah, and elsewhere in Bradley County, Tennessee. So far, over $2,000 in in-kind donations have been provided to the impacted farms. Their good deeds have included clearing roads, mending fences, and tending to horses and other farm animals along with delivering bags of gain and bales of hay. The hard work is much needed, as cut trees and branches cause fences to break and animals to escape.
“Farm tasks that would typically take an hour or two now take most of the morning. But, it is important to support our horse and farm community since small property owners do not receive the same type of assistance as larger farms and operations typically do.”
The volunteers would eventually like to create a 501c3 non-profit to provide a support network for those in the equestrian community who are impacted by bad weather and natural disasters year round. To learn more and support the local relief effort you can join the Chattanooga Equestrian Networking Facebook Group.