You all are absolutely amazing!
Brace yourselves.. are you ready? No really, I hope you’re sitting! The original goal was $2,500 to raise for the amazing unofficial animal rescue called Raven House down near Gleeson, AZ. Somewhere in my crazy mind I thought this might be possible but the logical part of my brain was bracing for something far lower and preparing to be thrilled and excited for whatever meager funds we raised. Silly doubtful voice! WE RAISED $2,594!!!!
$1,120 = Cash Donations
$320 = Charity Soap Sets
$40 = Raven House Shirt Sales
$1,114 = Bake Sale Proceeds
The outpouring of support was tremendous and took all forms as you can see from the spread above. The bake sale was so much fun, there were many vegan-treat loving supporters in attendance to help us eat our way to success! Loveland Boutique helped us set up and provided the charming space for our benefit (thanks, Jinia for all your support & Althea there in spirit). We would have been nowhere without our vegan baking army fearlessly lead by cupcake extraordinaire, Rikki Hale (Rikki, you are incredible, thank you SO so much), and myself. These bakers donated goodies made from ingredients that are often not entirely convenient to come by, that carry a premium price tag or that have to be special ordered. They donate their time, energy, and creativity to make amazing treats that you would never guess didn’t have all of the icky stuff found in conventional sweeties! They worked really hard and I am so grateful!!
Generous donations came from Corianne of Treehouse Bakery, a place you can actually get such goodies 7 days a week! A couple other local vegan bloggers donated as well, thanks Kinike & Katie! Big big thanks to Zoe, Kiara, Allison of SmockYou (look for her stuff downtown at Conspire!), Amy (thanks for all the pictures, too!!! I didn’t have time to take any myself, you saved me!), Catherine, Julia, Kelly, Jessie, and Joan. There were actually so many donations I couldn’t keep track of them all!!!! I know there are a few missing – Rikki’s boyfriend’s coworker made some unbelievable baklava – thank you Tim’s co-worker! :c)
Apart from the bake sale there were wonderful donations through soap sales and cash donations. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED: Adam, Amanda, Amber, Andrea, Beth, Brent, Britney, Caleb, Caroline, Cathy, Christine, Debbie, Dina, Heidi, Jeni, Jenna, Jennifer, Jessica, Jinia, Johnida, Joshua, Kate, Kelly, Kewal, Kimberly, Loral, Marthe, MaryBeth, Maxine, Michael, Nancy, Ouina, Raymond, Robin, Ruth, Sandy, Sharon, Shell, Sherry,Stacy,Tina, Tom, and Wendy!!!
The funds raised will be presented to the owner of Raven House next weekend and I can’t wait to see her expression! She is one who is used to taking care of everyone and never asks for help. Imagine the joy that will come with this desperately needed donation.
I love our community of caring individuals. Together we make amazing things happen! Thank you!
Click here to download a printable PDF flyer and help spread the word! :c)
Please donate directly (through Strawberry Hedgehog) by clicking on the donate button below.
Raven House is in the Dragoon Mountains, near Gleeson, AZ. It serves as an unofficial shelter to the surrounding rural community and is run by my 71 year old friend. People bring her strays and abused animals and she nurses them to health. She has 20 acres of land and a home and yard set up to cater to every animal’s whim but runs the place entirely out of her own very limited pocket. The animals below are just a few of the 90+ creatures who currently reside at Raven House. Thanks in advance from all the critters for any donation, large or small!
Please donate directly (through Strawberry Hedgehog) by clicking on the donate button below.
Doc is a nubian goat with a sweet demeanor and the most beautiful eyes. He was adopted along with his sister, Kate, when they were just little ones. I met the three goats who originally lived at Raven House in 2006. They are pictured above, Doc (the big guy), Kate (black), and Daphne (beige with horns). They were quite the trio even as adults but I am told as kids they were all over the place. Kate and Doc were inseparable from birth. They never spent a night not touching, even the night that Kate gave birth, Doc stuck his head into the barn so they could touch noses. They were mischievous and playful and loved going for walks and climbing up seemingly unclimbable cliffs and rock piles. Upon leaving her front door open for a bit the care taker at Raven House came in to find both Kate and Doc standing on her water bed as if they had conquered it!
Contrary to our society’s treatment of animals in general, life is not cheap! As you might imagine, 30 cats eat a lot of food and decent food is not cheap either. The kitties of Raven House get fresh wet food in the morning and in the evening and have the option of grazing on dry food all day and night. Even the shyest of cats come out at breakfast, they meow, they purr, they rub against one another and groom. It is quite a sweet sight!
Kossa arrived at Raven House with his twin brother, Kachina, shortly following their birth. Their mother was lost early on and they were bottled raised with care. They grew up to be big and strong and maintained their kitten-like playfulness. I met these nearly indistinguishable brothers as an inseparable pair. Sadly, last year Kossa lost his brother, Kachina, to a long struggle with feline leukemia. 
Have you had the horrible experience of hitting a bird with your car or seeing it happen around you? PJ was hit by a semi on a stretch of Highway 191. The founder of Raven House saw this happen and hopped out to retrieve the injured bird (how many of us would have done this? I am a true animal lover but after seeing that I would have assumed her dead and driven on sadly). Her head had been hit severely but she was alive. She was cared for gently for months, starting to get around better, the feathers on her head started to grow back in, finally able to fly again. She stayed with the doves at Raven House but something was still off. 
This is Spike, AKA, big turkey lady, AKA Baby Hughey. Rescued as a tiny turklet in early Fall of 2008 she was saved from neglect and a short life ending in an oven. She is a genetically altered turkey, a walking butterball if you will. Her breast is so freakishly large she has trouble walking and has had resulting health issues due to her disproportionate size. She appears to love her second chance at Raven House. She acts as the head of the flock of chickens, pushing everyone around but never too rough and enjoys turkey snuggles (if you pet her under her wings or under her chin she will make a sound like purring and close her eyes, it is the sweetest thing ever!)
