Lolli was scared and struggling when Ellie Laks and Jay Weiner welcomed her into their arms and home at The Gentle Barn. She was a baby goat who was born in the dead of winter and, due to the terribly cold environment, unfortunately lost her back two feet to frostbite. A neighbor expressed their concerns to Laks and Weiner, and so they adopted the tiny malnourished goat. Her healing began at The Gentle Barn. She was given prostheses for her feet and a wheelchair so she could run and play with the other goats. Together with the help of those at The Gentle Barn, Lolli healed and recovered. And now, along with many other animals, Lolli helps people of all backgrounds who need healing and recovery from their own trauma. People from all walks of life can benefit from the unconditional love and peace these animals give.
The Gentle Barn is home to rescued animals of all kinds: horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas, turkeys, chickens, and a guinea fowl. Hurting humans can seek comfort with horses in equine therapy, cows in cow hugging therapy, pigs for rubbing bellies, goats such as Lolli, chickens for holding, turkeys to cuddle, and sheep to pet. Some animals don’t work with humans, but are on their own recovery.
The nonprofit was started in 1999 by Ellie and has served thousands of animals since. There are two locations, one in Christiana, TN, and one in Santa Clarita, CA. This August will be the nonprofit’s 26th anniversary, and they have seen a million people walk through their doors.
Ellie, a true animal advocate, has written two books since beginning her adventure and legacy with The Gentle Barn. The books give a unique inside look at the power of animals to heal and create positive change in people’s lives, and Ellie’s in particular. The two books are My Gentle Barn: Creating a Sanctuary Where Animals Heal and Children Learn to Hope and Cow Hug Therapy: How the Animals at the Gentle Barn Taught Me about Life, Death, and Everything in Between. The books are available on Amazon, Audible, and signed copies on the Gentle Barn's website.
We all can make the world a better place if we “vow to help those directly in front of us. If someone is hungry, feed them,” and if someone is lonely, “give them a smile,” says Ellie. Kindness is what “makes this a better place.”
This summer, The Gentle Barn will be having a fundraiser to raise awareness and support. The campaign’s goal is to raise $300,000, and to accomplish this, The Gentle Barn is partnering with Nashville Hotels, The Union Station, and Noelle. Every Monday from July to August during Conductor’s Hour, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Bar Car at the Union Station will donate 100% of its profits from its featured and rotating cocktail to the animal sanctuary. Noelle contributed by offering their “Gentle Stay” package to those staying at the hotel, and also the Rare Bird and Trade Room bars at the Noelle are donating $1 from every featured cocktail.
The nonprofit is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Gentlebarn.org
The Gentle Barn is home to rescued animals of all kinds: horses, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas, turkeys, chickens, and a guinea fowl.