Thank you for your support!!!!
SPECIAL NEWS FOR YOU! OUR BELOVED PAWS FARM WILL HAVE TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND ANIMALS AT THE FOREFRONT OF ITS FUTURE!
Paws Farm was founded in 1979 by a group of us volunteers who wanted a wonderful place where children could learn about and care about animals and we worked to restore the wreckage of the long-neglected Darnell Farmstead in Mount Laurel, NJ. We formed a nonprofit and with determination and a boatload of hard work we tackled the dilapidated 1736 farmhouse, the 1940’s dairy barn, the historic ruins of the ironstone ice house and smoke house, dating to the 1690’s. We entered into a 25-year lease with the owners- the Township of Mount Laurel.
Over time, we repaired each building as volunteers and we built the welcome center, an additional large space for children and their families to enjoy and a horse barn. We also constructed multiple enclosures to house wild animals, birds and farm animals who needed a good home. We nursed many orphaned raccoons, fawns, opossums, bunnies, squirrels, birds of prey and farm animals and had many successful wild animal and bird releases. Our Board retired when our 25-year lease with the Township was concluded in 2004.
When Paws Farm suddenly closed its doors in 2020, with broken heating and electrical systems, faulty plumbing, collapsing roofs, crumbling masonry and siding, and Covid hit, the chance of Paws Farm ever opening again was remote. ... But 147,000 people seemingly overnight signed an online petition that they were very upset and they wanted Paws Farm reopened!
Those of us still here from the first restoration, much older now, and the offspring of those who were original founders with us asked honestly, can we volunteers possibly do all this AGAIN? We can and must try or Paws and all its beauty, history and purpose will be lost forever. And so, In early 2021, we formed a new nonprofit and entered into a lease -again- with Mount Laurel Township to SAVE PAWS FARM AND BRING IT BACK TO LIFE! With hundreds of supportive volunteers, at least nine 30”ft dumpsters and our painting, electrical, plumbing, heating, roofing, siding, masonry, landscaping contractors and multiple other repairs and restorations we tackled it all in one hectic year. It takes 3 pages in small type to even begin to describe the enormity of the efforts.
We opened summers of ’22 and ’23 with teachers, Judy Toscano and Lynn Brinser and numerous volunteers and financial supporters like the Lahn family, owners of FunPLex and our generous Volunteer Board of Trustees. We got help, too, from township attorney, George Morris who worked on a complicated contract with Green Acres and continuous help from Township Superintendent of Public Works, Jerry Mascia and Joe Paretti from that department.
We opened summers in ’22 and ’23 to the delight of thousands of visitors who were rooting for us, as we were looking with an eye and open mind to find a permanent, positive future for Paws Farm that would endure way past ourselves. We had completed our restoration and the reopening of the -now beautiful again- Paws Farm.
For that future we invited officials from the new Schreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan to visit Paws Farm. The Dean of this very first Veterinary School in New Jersey, Dr. Matthew Edson and other veterinarians and officials of the school met with several of us Board members at Paws Farm and also with the Township. We were aware of the stellar reputation of the Henry M. Rowan Family Foundation which has miraculously created and funded for New Jersey, the country and globally – a quality undergraduate Rowan University, outstanding medical schools and Business School, and now a Schreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University, a first for New Jersey and a much-needed educational facility benefitting those who will serve large and small animals. As they take over now from our Board, Volunteers For Paws Farm, Inc., we are so very thankful our beloved Paws Farm will have teachers, students and animals and a dedicated and experienced veterinary team at the forefront of its future.
Kate and Charles Tweedy M.D., Founders, Volunteers for Paws Farm, Inc.
Thanks to our volunteers, so much work has been completed!
During the past year, volunteers worked tirelessly on renovating PAWS Farm – from the old Darnell Farm House to the Dairy Barn, Ice House and Smoke House, Butterfly Garden and the overgrown grounds of the entire property – PAWS Farm is shining brightly today! We want to thank everyone who volunteered their time and talents to get us to where we are today! Now we need to continue this momentum with community support. While we search for a 3rd party partner to run PAWS Farm’s day to day operations and finances, we still need funding to offset the cost of a full-time caretaker and hopefully, eventually part-time workers and animal care. We have accomplished so much during the last 12-months but still need your support to continue our mission. Any parties interested in speaking with us about a partnership should contact us.. We are planning to hold various fundraisers and special events at PAWS Farm in the coming months, so there will be more opportunities to volunteer – and, of course, we always welcome monetary donations at any time!
Many dumpsters filled!
Many dumpster loads of structural debris, trash, and other debris left on site from previous management was removed.
Mason work compeleted!
Structures such as the Darnell Smoke House were in need of repair. An experienced Mason was hired for repairs and restoration of these precious historical structures.
Tons of trash removed!
Many buildings had items left over from previous management that was organized, categorized, and/or removed.
Building Repairs Completed!
The original Darnell Family Farmhouse was in need of repairs to ensure preservation and future use. Repairs included electrical installations, woodwork, concrete repair, replacing gutters, painting, cosmetic detail, and more.
Lawn Maintenance completed!
With PAWS having been shuttered for over a year, the property was in dire need of tender love and care. Lots of mowing, weed eating, and general landscaping was completed.
Structure Removal/Repairs completed!
Dilapidated structures, sheds, enclosures and fences were removed or repaired!