FBS Family and Supporters,
As you know, we've been working tirelessly to find a permanent home for For Belle's Sake Rescue. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we've navigated the search for a new property. While we've faced some setbacks, we're excited to share that we're closer than ever to securing our new location. We're excited to finally share an update on our progress.
*a long read so thank you for making it to the end*
Unfortunately, our initial offers on a 30-acre parcel fell through. Despite being transparent about our plans for the rescue, the seller was convinced by their realtor that it would be a "noise nuisance" and declined to sell to us. We were disappointed by the lack of communication and the time wasted, but we remain optimistic.
The good news is that our realtor has found another promising option – a secluded acreage adjacent to our retirement home in Nebraska. The owner is open to selling, and the property already has power and access to water from our personal acreage, which would be a significant cost saving to FBS. It even has a perfect building site nestled in the trees!
The challenge is that the property is larger than we need (70+ acres) and the owner isn't willing to divide it. This means we'd need to purchase the entire property and then potentially sell the excess land later.
I wanted to provide a quick follow-up regarding our fundraising efforts for the new rescue property. As of today, we have raised an incredible $86,500, including commitments for donor matching. This is truly amazing and we are so grateful for your generosity.
However, we still have a ways to go to reach our minimum goal of $150,000. Christian and I are prepared to use our personal savings to cover the remaining balance over the $150,000, but we need one final push to get to the goal.
I'll be honest, asking for funding is never easy. I know how hard each of us works to make ends meet, and our finances are precious. But I also know that this is the only way to ensure the future of For Belle's Sake. We are a non-profit organization, and therefore, we rely on the support of our community to continue our mission.
Currently, we have a generous business partner who has offered to match a donation of $3,500. If we can find a donor to match this offer, we will be $7,000 closer to our goal and to securing a permanent home for the rescue.
We understand that this is a significant amount, but we believe in the power of our communities. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal and with your help, we can secure a bright future for For Belle's Sake Rescue and the animals we serve.
We understand that some of you may have concerns about our relocation from North Dakota to Nebraska. We want to address those concerns and provide some clarity as well.
We want to assure you that this decision was made with the long-term sustainability and best interests of For Belle's Sake (FBS) in mind.
FBS did not originate in North Dakota. We began our work in South Carolina, and it was only with the generous support of our South Carolina community that we were able to continue operations when the founders relocated to North Dakota due to military orders.
For the past ten years, FBS has been proud to serve North Dakota and surrounding states from the founders' personal property. However, after over 20 years of military service, the founders have earned the right to privacy and retirement and are no longer able to host the rescue at their home.
For Belle's Sake needs to own its own property to ensure its continued operation and longevity, independent of our personal circumstances. Regardless of the potential move, if FBS remains operational, we are not abandoning North Dakota. We remain committed to our community support programs and foster-based rescue in the area, as long as there is continued support.
We also understand how stressful this uncertainty has been for our supporters, especially with the lack of concrete direction. We want to assure you that it has been incredibly stressful for us as well, as we navigate both retirement and a significant move. The future is uncertain, and that can be scary.
That's why we've made it a priority to be transparent with you every step of the way. We know that For Belle's Sake is a vital resource to the Midwest, and we also know that we can't continue our work without your support.
If we are unable to raise the necessary funding to secure our new location, FBS will have to close its doors. However, we will always be proud of the thousands of families and animals we've served with pride for nearly 15 years.
If you would like to support our fundraising efforts to purchase a private property for For Belle's Sake, donations can be made directly to donor box via this link OR via the methods below:
MAIL: PO Box 243, Sawyer ND 58781
PAYPAL: forbellessake@gmail.com
VENMO: exactly at this address @forbellessake (ask us for the 4 digit code)
Thank you for your continued support and unwavering dedication. We couldn't do this without you.
Sincerely,
FBS Rescue