COLUMN: Marion animal rescue ranch needs donations
All Mosta Ranch in Marion, a nonprofit livestock rescue/adoption operation and educational center, is bucking up for a blockbuster summer of increased visitors from out of town and youth groups, including local group homes, the Summit Preparatory School and traveling church groups.
Last year nearly 1,000 visitors and volunteers visited the ranch. As of June that number is nearly 400.
The ranch’s mission is “to provide a sustainable quality of life for abused, displaced, neglected or unwanted farm animals while enriching the lives of children and adults of all abilities through them.”
The ranch operates year-round, and last year’s much publicized drought in the Flathead Valley did help boost donations for hay and grain. However, as the ranch’s newsletter states, “It’s hard to operate on a ‘boom or bust’ mentality.”
The ranch supports anywhere from 85 to 100 animals at a time — a menagerie of chickens and cows, donkeys and ducks, geese and goats, horses, llamas, even pigs and peacocks. Acquiring sufficient hay and grain remain its number one priority, but the ranch also has to cover all of its operating expenses, including utilities, gas, fencing and animal housing maintenance and vetting. The ranch also hired its first part-time employees at the end of last year so it is now committed to related expenses such as wages, worker’s compensation and unemployment insurance.
A new hay season starts July 1 to bolster stores in preparation for the coming winter. The ranch also maintains a “hay bank” to provide for others.
All Mosta Ranch is a 501 (c)(3) organization that is solely funded by private donations. To make a donation or for more information, call 406-270-7513, write or send a check to All Mosta Ranch, P.O. Box 937, Marion MT 59925; or visit allmostaranch.org.
The Gateway to Glacier Trail team hosted its Pedal & Paddle for Paths fundraising event on June 18. The weather was a bit of a wild card as warm breezes mixed with showery skies off and on throughout the afternoon.
And yet, volunteer Sarah Dakin said, “Hardy souls turned out for a fun afternoon of bike riding, river rafting and pizza, all throwing in their support for the ambitious Gateway to Glacier Trail.” Many people and local businesses gave their time, equipment and expertise to make the event a success.
Construction will begin next month on the trail from Coram to West Glacier. A welcome kiosk also will be built in Hungry Horse this summer.
“We look forward to seeing everyone on the trail soon!” Dakin said.
While you’re cleaning out your closets this summer, set aside any unwanted scarves and drop them by Big Mountain Thrift in Whitefish. The thrift shop is having a scarf drive and will be donating them to assisted-living facilities and nursing homes in the area where even in warmer months residents may need a warm scarf to keep the chill off. The scarves are also used for stretching and physical exercises.
Big Mountain Thrift is located on U.S. 93 between Don K Whitefish and Dalen Dental. It’s open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. There’s also a donation bin to the right of the door.
For more details, call Holly or Crystal at 406-730-2305.
Community Editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.