A lifelong friendship has turned into a joint effort commitment to make

a difference at Red Bucket

What are your retirement goals? Rest, relaxation, travel? Meet two

dynamic women who choose to WORK HARD as part of their retirement

plan!

Linda Weaver was approaching retirement and was looking for a volunteer

opportunity, when her best friend Donna Murphy sent a newspaper article

about a horse rescue. Upon further investigation, she didn’t like their

website descriptions on volunteering. When she researched more rescues

online, she found Red Bucket, mentioned it to Donna, and came to a

Sunday open house. “I don’t know what I expected to find, but it certainly

wasn’t what I saw!” recalls Linda. “I was so impressed that I bought into

the whole concept immediately and signed up for the very next

orientation. I worked two afternoons a week until I retired two months

later; now I can spend more time at the Ranch!”

Susan Peirce sees these two BFFs as a force to admire: “Linda and Donna

joined our organization together; however they both have their own

distinct roles and jobs. They have immersed themselves in our culture,

are strong advocates of our mission, and have embraced our work and our

cause. They are great examples for the other volunteers! Both gals help

with gardening and Ranch beautification, are always pitching in for our

special events, and have great Red Bucket attitudes. We are truly

grateful to have them on our team.”

According to Karen McGarrah, Linda and Donna are a double dose of

generosity. “I call them the Dynamic Duo!” Karen shares with me. “If

they see something that needs to be done, they just DO IT! They help out

with many of our special events such as Help a Horse Day and Stable

Service Day, and they are actively involved in many different projects.

This ‘go-to’ pair are always willing to go the extra mile; they have

compassion for our horses and they completely understand our mission.

Linda has a background with horses, Donna a background with rescue

groups and they complement each other perfectly! They came to the

Ranch together and they work well together; their friendship sealed the

deal for their volunteer work.”

Donna explains the metamorphosis that occurs to her at the Ranch. “I’m

just transported into another world of serenity. The horses do as much for

me as I do for them. I’ve loved horses all my life. Never having the

opportunity to own one, I decided to volunteer my services, yet I wanted

to wait until my good friend Linda was also available to volunteer. My

knowledge of horses was limited to books, and now I am realistically

content to serve Red Bucket horses, and I’m proud when they ‘recognize’

me!”

“When I applied at Red Bucket I thought my duties would consist of

washing red buckets and cleaning up around the Ranch,” Donna

continues. “I haven’t washed a red bucket yet, but I happily help feed,

garden, decorate, cleanup, repair, etc. Anything they ask me to do, I do

it! My favorite job is stuffing and delivering hay nets. At first I was

nervous retrieving those hay nets from the stalls in order to stuff them,

yet Karen had faith in me, and I didn’t want to let her down. Now I look

forward to the interaction with our horses and the satisfaction of doing

my small part to care for them all.”

Linda’s love affair with horses started when she was 6 and her dad took

her to a riding stable. “Every penny I saved went to riding lessons or to

renting a horse at the local stables,” Linda recalls. “I got my own horse

when I was 22 years old, an Appaloosa named Blue Boy.” And that’s when

the REAL love affair began!

“My duties at Red Bucket began with filling the night hay bags with

Donna,” Linda explains. “Once I retired from my full time job, Karen

encouraged me to learn about the morning buckets and cleaning water

troughs. I am so very fortunate to work with a wonderful team of women

(Carol, Michelle, Debbie, Lonnie, Zoe, etc.) who are SO committed to this

task and to the welfare of our horses. I am also part of the Gardening

Committee: as a team we work together really well keeping up with the

many gardening needs of the Ranch. I also groom, do turnouts, wash pipe

stalls, clean buckets, really anything that needs to be done.“

Linda has reacquainted herself with the basics of horses and

horsemanship after 20 years away from equines, and Donna is just

learning. Every day they both learn something new. Diana Harper

elaborates on how important this special pair is at the Ranch. “I don’t

think they realize how appreciated and needed they are by Red Bucket.

‘Call us if you’re short on help’ is their motto.”

In addition to learning the ropes at the Ranch, both gals have become

more aware of our mission. Linda speaks from her heart: “The

commitment to each and every horse, to provide them a safe

environment within which to heal their physical and psychological

wounds, and the promise of a forever home describes the Red Bucket

mission. Each time I see a new horse arrive I tell them, ‘You have no idea

what you have lucked into. Your life can only get better from here.’

Smiling face and smiling eyes, it melts my heart! I can’t say enough about

Red Bucket. I talk about it to my friends and family all the time. It has

become such an important part of my life. I even feel guilty when I go on

vacation!”

Donna contributes her own interpretation of our mission: “It’s true that

individuals, from all walks of life, can come together for a common

cause. Ours is to rescue, restore and rehabilitate those broken horses who

come to Red Bucket. We all play a part in this goal.”

Jenon Mathes provides another perspective on the commitment of this

team of two. “They both genuinely enjoy their contributions to Red

Bucket and not only are they invaluable, they are most appreciated.”

We are so grateful for both of these lovely ladies, for all they do and for

all they bring to Red Bucket! Our Ranch looks beautiful because of their

hard work, and our horses are happy because of their love.