JANUARY 8, 2020
In the past, with every new booking, Engaging Events has made a donation to one of 4 nonprofit organizations in the Lowcountry; of the clients choosing. This year, we will once again be donating for every new booking, but, we’ve decided to focus on one cause, in particular: L.E.A.R.N Horse Rescue. We found L.E.A.R.N through Cindy’s daughter, whose love of horses and everything equestrian led her to volunteer at the rescue. After hearing some of the stories of the animals from her daughter, Cindy decided that we had to learn more about the organization and support them in any way we can.
When I pulled up to L.E.A.R.N Horse Rescue, I didn’t know what to expect. If you visit L.E.A.R.N’s Facebook page, it says “Our mission is to rescue. Our dream is that one day we will not have to.” Over the course of my visit, I realized that L.E.A.R.N rescues in so many ways. There’s a beautiful pasture with horses and a donkey, but the property is also home to 2 potbelly pigs, 3 dogs, 6 cats, and multiple roosters. Upon meeting Elizabeth Steed, the founder of L.E.A.R.N, I found out that L.E.A.R.N is spread between 8 different properties all throughout South Carolina. However, the most surprising thing that I learned (no pun intended), was that L.E.A.R.N rescues people.
I visited on a random Friday afternoon in the week after Christmas. I figured there wouldn’t be many volunteers around so close to the holidays, but to my surprise there was a group of six or seven. While I chatted with Elizabeth, I had the pleasure of meeting three young volunteers, all in their early 20s. One was a young girl who has been with L.E.A.R.N since she was in the ninth grade. The other two volunteers were young men from a rigorous nuclear education program with the Navy.
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Chuck FKA PedroWe toured the property, hung out with some of the horses, and mostly just sat while Elizabeth and the volunteers told stories. Elizabeth described L.E.A.R.N as “the island of misfit toys” and one of the volunteers called it a “people rescue.” People of all different backgrounds come to volunteer with the organization, and a lot of them seem to need it more than they might realize at the outset. The female volunteer went on to tell me about a deeply personal tragedy that resulted in the loss of her faith. Through her time with L.E.A.R.N, she’s found that connection with religion again, and healed in other ways as well. As for the two young men from the naval program, Elizabeth told me about the stress that’s involved in such a rigorous undertaking, and how having a sanctuary of sorts not only keeps them out of trouble, but heals them in ways they never knew they needed. Some volunteers camp out on the property, go kayaking on the pond, and sometimes stay for a whole weekend. They even hold a New Year’s Eve bonfire.
Of course, there are the animals, too. I met Bruce, Lily, and Ellie Mae, who are Elizabeth’s personal pups; all very sweet rescues, of course. I heard stories about Chuck, Molly and Whisper, all of whom I’d read about on the L.E.A.R.N website before heading out there. Elizabeth knows so much about each and every animal, and I got the sense that she truly loves and cares for all of them. I knew that the animals’ stories would touch my heart, but I truly didn’t expect to hear so many personal anecdotes from the volunteers on how L.E.A.R.N has rescued them.
I asked Elizabeth what she wants the community to know about the organization that might not be on the website. She replied that what she truly desires is for people to come out and interact with the animals. There are plenty of programs for dog and cat rescues, but horses and livestock tend to go unnoticed by most people; if there isn’t a sad ASPCA commercial about it on TV, it’s harder to personally identify with the importance of the issue. Frankly, I’d have to agree with her; I felt the same way before I heard the animals’ stories and got to see them finally healthy and thriving. L.E.A.R.N is definitely fulfilling its mission, I hope that one day they fulfill their dream of not having to rescue horses from such sad situations.
Molly
Whisper
Overall, I felt the greatest sense of community and family that I’d ever felt from a group of volunteers. Elizabeth helps to feed them, connects with them on a personal level, and has so very clearly had an impact on these peoples’ lives. Engaging Events is so blessed to have the resources to contribute to an organization like L.E.A.R.N, and to support the work that they’re doing. There are so many ways to help: monetary donations through PayPal, donating a small portion of any Amazon purchase through AmazonSmile, donations of supplies from their Amazon wishlist, you can foster, sponsor, or adopt a horse, and of course donate your time by volunteering.
Visit their website or their Facebook page to learn more about L.E.A.R.N.