Proceeds benefit Days Dreams Farm Rescue and Rehabilitation
By Barb Pert Templeton
Coming up with unique ways to raise money can become a challenging part of operating a non-profit but the organizers of Day Dreams Farm Rescue and Rehabilitation have come up with a great springtime idea.
This detailed flyer about the Egg My Yard program has been circulating in the area for several weeks now.
The Egg My Yard program is marking its third year of Easter fun for both those who order the eggs and the volunteers who deliver them. The evening before Easter Sunday morning the candy and toy filled eggs are delivered to 16 municipalities across Macomb and St. Clair counties.
The eggs can be purchased in lots of 20 eggs for $20, 40 eggs for $35 or 60 eggs for $50.
Organizers admit the event has become one of their favorite fundraisers and this year they are pleased to offer participants a new and improved online ordering system.
Day Dreams Farm Rescue and Rehabilitation, located in Cottrellville Township, was founded by a small group of people with a deep love for horses and people in need. A mission statement on their website says they are dedicated to helping abused and neglected horses, educating the public about the responsibility of owning horses and teaching people from all walks of life the value of bonding with horses and other animals. It is a place where children and adults can find enrichment, satisfaction and purpose by helping to provide care for unwanted, abused or neglected horses.
At the farm they rescue equines including horses, mules, or donkeys that are in imminent danger from ending up in the kill pen or being slaughtered. We rehabilitate their bodies and their minds and adopt them to new homes where they get a second chance at a great life, the website says.
“I’ve been asked what my goals are for our rescue. Our goals are much like everyone else; rescue horses, educate people, stop horse abuse and neglect,” Director Lisa J. Marriott stated on the Day Dreams Farm website. “But my dream is that our rescue shuts down completely because nobody needs us anymore, that we can no longer find horses to rescue from these horrible people. My dream is that every animal is safe from neglect and abuse, and we are no longer needed.”
Blue Water Healthy Living caught up with Marriott to pose a few questions about the Egg My Yard program.
Blue Water Healthy Living: How long has Day Dreams Farm been hosting this event?
Day Dreams Farm Director Lisa Marriott: This is our third year.
BWHL: How did you come up with the idea?
Proceeds from the Egg My Yard fundraiser will be used to purchase hay and pay veterinarian bills at Day Dreams Farm Rescue and Rehabilitation in Cottrellville Township.
Marriott: One of our amazing supporters came up with it after our Farm Easter Event kept getting cancelled because of weather.
BWHL: Did you start out with 16 cities?
Marriott: We did, we would love to expand but finding drivers to deliver proves to be difficult sometimes.
BWHL: What’s new this year?
Marriott: A much more streamlined process that’s now done online.
BWHL: Basically, how does it work?
Marriott: People give us the orders and we fill the eggs with candy and toys and we hide them in their yards for the kids to find on Easter Morning. This year we had a bunch of buckets donated to us by the New Baltimore Lions, so the kids will have their own bucket to put the eggs in.
BWHL: Any issues at homes – dogs, people?
Marriott: No, never had an issue but we tell people in advance we will be there sometime after 7 so everybody has been really good so far.
BWHL: It appears that the project has expanded since its debut – did that require additional volunteers?
Marriott: Yes, this year we seem to be having more problems finding drivers. But we always find a way to make it work.
BWHL: Where do you get the products for the eggs? Is it strictly candy or a few toys too?
Marriott: Usually toys too, we buy them in bulk but we have had several wonderful people donate off of our Amazon Wish List.
BWHL: What are the funds generated by the egg event used for?
Marriott: The money always goes directly to our hay fund and upcoming vet bills.
BWHL: Is there a deadline for ordering the eggs?
Marriott: We will accept last minute entries, but we try to cut it off on the Wednesday before (March 27) so we can get everything done and mapped.
These are the cities where eggs can be delivered:
- Algonac
- Casco
- Chesterfield
- China
- Clay Twp.
- Cottrellville
- East China
- Fair Haven
- Ira Twp
- Lenox
- Marine City
- Marysville
- New Baltimore
- New Haven
- Richmond
- St. Clair
To order up eggs for Easter morning customers can simply go to the farm website at daydreamsfarm.com, click on “events” and fill out a form.
For more information about the organization, call (810)335-4183, email info@daydreamsfarm.com go to daydreamsfarm.com or Day Dreams Farm Equine and Rescue and Rehabilitation/Facebook.
