Please consider making a contribution via their website at www.jerseycitycemetery.org. Please just add a note "GOATS".
From The Historic Jersey CIty & Harsimus Cemetery at 435 Newark Avenue, JCNJ 07302:
As many of you know, last Spring, our Volunteer family who are operating and restoring the formerly abandoned "The Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery" (www.jerseycitycemetery.org) adopted a little herd of GOATS!
These six little Nubian Goats brought such joy to the entire Jersey CIty & surrounding communities, and especially to the local Hilltop, Journal Square, and Downtown Jersey City children who got to visit 7 days a week, to pet them, feed them,
and also learn about their important eco-friendly project at the historic cemetery.
They weren't just there simply as an 'attraction', but were contracted as little union workers to help our Volunteer team eradicate several hilly acres of invasive weeds, that were killing off our important Colonial plants & bushes.
The friendly herd of Goats were with us from April thru October, and then they went back to their farm in Rhinebeck, NY for this very cold winter.
We were so excited about their return to the Historic Jersey City & Harsimus Cemetery this spring, & planned for their arrival for Sunday, April 26th, when we host our annual "Celebrate Mother Earth" Festival & fundraiser at and for the historic cemetery.
Sadly, our little Goats all perished last week in a tragic Barn fire at the Rhinebeck farm. The Goat Herders, Larry & Ann Cihanek of "Green-Goats" (Green-Goats.com) and their family are devastated, as all of their 100 Goats perished in the fire, plus the entire Barn was lost (and not insured).
We volunteers are devastated too, as we loved these animals, who each had a very special and gentle personality.
We were so saddened to learn of the tragedy, but to our surprise, the Herders have spoken with us, and are acquiring new Goats, and are still planning to bring the new Goats to our historic cemetery, as planned, on Sunday, April 26th.
Although our not for profit mission has no regular revenue or major funding, we hope to seek SPONSORSHIPS for the 2015 Goat Project to raise $10,000 (or more), and to present a $10,000 check to Larry and Ann Cihanek when they arrive with the new Goats on April 26th.
While $10,000 will not rebuild their barn or replace all their beloved goats, it will at least give them a good start.
Our historic Jersey City Cemetery is an amazing Cultural Heritage site, and the exciting Goat Project has also helped us raise much awareness of our mission.
Our volunteer mission and our Goat project were featured in local and national news, including live on-site broadcasts by News 12, Fox 5, The New York Times, and many publications.
We were also featured in a television series called 'Urban Animals". This exciting project was a 'win-win' , both for the Cemetery volunteer mission, and for Jersey City & Hudson County - to have this Creative Eco-Friendly solution with Goats in the city!!
Its been a very long time since there were Goats in Jersey City. This was such a wonderful gift for the community, as well as a major help to our ongoing work at our historic Cemetery.
If any of your groups or businesses, or even individuals, would like to consider being a SPONSOR of the 2015 "The Kids are Alright!" - our Eco-Friendly Weed Eradication Goat Project, will you kindly contact me at 201-707-0738, or please consider making a contribution via our website at www.jerseycitycemetery.org. Please just add a note "GOATS". Checks payable to "Jersey City Cemetery' may also be mailed to Historic Jersey CIty Cemetery at 435 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Again, please note 'GOATS' on your check. Sponsorships levels are $500, $1000 and $1500, however, any individual "supporter" contribution for the Goats will be gladly accepted and appreciated. ALL PROCEEDS COLLECTED will be turned over to Larry & Ann Cihanek, the Goat Herders, on Sunday, April 26th, at our Earth Day Festival when we welcome the new goats. I hope you will consider helping this wonderful cause. Please feel free to SHARE our plea to help.
Thank you so much. Would be wonderful if Jersey City, plus our Hudson County Freeholders, would also consider helping us to sponsor this heartwarming project.
Maybe one day, we can have Goats helping out in many of our city & county Parks!!
