Tehachapi Natural Market and Healing Hearts Farm Sanctuary –connecting at the heart and soul

As owners of Tehachapi Natural Market, Teresa Dunlop and Sarah Rose are frequently approached to support individuals, groups and causes within the Tehachapi community.

They do their best to give whenever they can but they also wanted to find a cause they could support on more of a regular basis.

"Deciding which group or cause to get behind was not easy," Sarah said, "as there are so many deserving non-profits in our community."

After a great deal of thought and prayer, the two decided to sponsor Healing Hearts Farm Sanctuary, located just west of town on Woodford-Tehachapi Rd.

Healing Hearts Farm Sanctuary is a labor of love run by husband and wife team, Jason and Jennefer Lawson. What began with two miniature donkeys that were going to be used for assisted psychotherapy (Jennefer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) has turned into a forever home for abandoned, abused or slaughter bound animals that include horses, goats, pigs and a cow.

Jennefer explains, "We are a sanctuary that rehabilitates animals who have been discarded or have not had the best experiences with humans. We do not adopt them back out. Once they come to us, they have found their forever home."

On their website, http://www.HealingHeartsFarmSanctuary.org, Jason writes, "Rehabilitating an animal that has been neglected, starved or abused mentally and physically has shown me a greater meaning to life.  Through this connection with our animals I've become honored to take on any task large or small that will increase the quality of life to those that have become residents in their forever home here at HHFS."

It was this commitment to improving quality of life, not just for the animals, but for the people who interact with them that resonated with Teresa and Sarah.

"Our goal here at the market is to do whatever we can to support folks who are trying to improve themselves physically, mentally and spiritually," Teresa said. "Supporting what Jennefer and Jason are doing at the Sanctuary is just one more way of achieving that goal. We have some apparel at the market that we are donating a portion of the proceeds to Healing Hearts plus we have become monthly sponsors of the sanctuary. We have plans to carry items provided by the sanctuary with 100 percent of the proceeds going back to Jennefer and Jason as well. We're looking for more ways to help them get the attention and funds they need to continue doing the incredible work that they do."

The Sanctuary is always looking for volunteers and sponsors, plus they will do tours of the farm. Go to their website at http://www.HealingHeartsFarmSanctuary.org to learn more about their mission, the animals and how you can help. Also, stop by Tehachapi Natural Market at 20221 W. Valley Blvd. to get your HHFS apparel.