Beading Divas January/February fundraising partner is Forever Home Donkey Rescue & Sanctuary (FHDR) in Benson, AZ. Their mission is to help donkeys in need of rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming. For more info, visit: https://foreverhomedonkeyrescue.com/
FHDR began with two wonderful people and a donkey. In 1997, Tish and John Hiestand were building a home on a 30-acre property in Benson, AZ. Tish’s birthday was coming up and John had seen an advertisement for a donkey for sale. Named Blackjack, the donkey became a companion to John as he worked on their home. He and John were asked to be in a few westerns being filmed nearby. Blackjack loved hanging with John and Tish, but they knew he needed a donkey friend to be totally happy. The first friend Blackjack gained only lived for 6 months due to medical issues. Tish and John started looking for another friend and they kept finding donkeys with medical or neurological issues, in need of a forever home. Hence, the birth of FHDR.
Blackjack had seen 74 donkeys come into the rescue and get adopted to loving homes. He saw 33 of his friends leave this earth, most buried on the property. He met many loving volunteers who helped Tish and John care for the donkeys. In 2019 he met a new volunteer, Suzanne, when she arrived for a tour. She moved onto the property and has been caring for the donkeys with John, Tish, and volunteers ever since. Blackjack saw the private sanctuary turn into a IRS 501(c)(3) all volunteer nonprofit in 2020. He saw and felt the love in John, Tish, and Suzanne’s eyes as he took his last breath in March of last year. He lived a life on these 30 acres, a good life. At 35 years of age Blackjack left this world knowing he was unconditionally loved.
You can help Forever Home Donkey Rescue & Sanctuary save other deserving animals like Blackjack by purchasing one-of-a-kind, handcrafted Beading Divas bracelets. Cost per bracelet is $20. Bracelets make great gifts any time of year!
The best selection is online via Etsy but in Tucson you can also buy bracelets at Fuchsia Spa in La Encantada Shopping Center, and Silver Sea Jewelry in the historic 4th Avenue Shopping District (Silver Sea is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon-6pm.)
