Sullivan Family Farms hosts fundraiser to help repair damage from fire
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Sullivan Family Farms is one of many affected by the Williams Lake Fire in Cheney.
They lost things like hay and plants. Now, the community is stepping in to lend a helping hand.
“Knowing we have that support in this hard time, it’s more important than I have words,” said Louise Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Family Farms.
Her family farm took a resounding hit from the fire.
“We lost over 50 percent of our pastures, over 200,000 pounds of hay, equipment mower implements, [our] irrigation system [and] our timber,” Sullivan said. “Unfortunately, my ox is the heart of the farm [and] he’s severely injured from the fire. We’re treating him, and two more cows presented some symptoms today that are in, and so there’s going to be a lot of rebuilding.”
To help with that rebuilding, The Bohemian, a local furniture store stepped in. Sullivan Family Farms have worked alongside The Bohemian for years. When owner Danielle Golay heard how they were affected, she looked for ways to help.
“When we heard about the fire we’d quickly see what we could do to offer help,” Golay said. “I feel like when God gives you that opportunity you take it and they just needed a place.”
Within the first hour, Sullivan Family Farms sold out of all their flowers.
“I’m really proud of our community at this point for their show of love and support for us and I humbly ask people to please help us,” Sullivan said.
The farm has special meaning to Louise.
“I’ve suffered domestic violence in a long-term relationship and moving to the farm was escaping that violent history… it’s been a wonderful chapter and that season of life where at the farm we want to bring joy to other people, a beautiful flower bouquet or delicious healthy beef for people to have or eggs,” Sullivan said.
She said seeing that people cared enough to step in keeps her moving forward.
“It felt devastating for this fire to be taking away this great chapter but it feels so reassuring to know that there are so many people out there that are there,” Sullivan said.
Smith Pak Farms has started a GoFundMe to help with anything else that Louise and her family need.
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