Woman Supports Wildlife Center By Selling Tomatoes
By Vanessa Richins
As the economy continues to decline, charitable donations have swiftly dropped.
Many people are struggling and can no longer afford to send the donations that they once did.
Money from federal and state sources is harder to find.
The Loxahatchee Wildlife Center is a small charity based in Leeann Connelly’s backyard in Loxahatchee, Florida. The mission statement is that they work to “rehabilitate and release wildlife back into suitable habitat, and to educate homeowners on how to create a more wildlife friendly environment in their own back yards.”
The wildlife center is funded through sales at her aquatic plant website and donations, receiving no governmental support. However, as donations dropped six years ago, Leeann found herself needing more money for food, medicines and the other necessities of caring for wildlife.
As local CBS12 station tells the story, the inspiration for the solution to her problem came after she tasted an heirloom tomato for the first time. She “couldn’t believe it there was actually was the slightest hint of bacon to it.” – describing a Cherokee Purple variety. Leeann recognized that there was a market for heirloom tomatoes, so she took a chance.
That year, she planted 16 different varieties of heirloom tomatoes. She was able to sell the tomatoes to local restaurants. Her new business, Tomato Girls, was even able to turn a profit in the past year. With the money from her tomato business, she is able to keep the Loxahatchee Wildlife Center running and save the lives of many animals.
Have you ever sold any of your tomatoes?
February 5th, 2009 at 8:41 am
hi
i just wanted to thank you for publishing my story. it was very kind.
thank you very much
leeann connelly
tomato girl
February 9th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
People like Leeann are admirable. They are the ones who contribute to make our lives better both by example and by doing something that benefits our environment. Good for her!