Jacksonville, FL. — Celestial Farms in North Jacksonville is in danger of closing for good.
That means more than 200 rescue animals could be left without a home if they don’t get help soon.
Action News Jax Alicia Tarancon spoke with the director on how much the pandemic has hurt their business in the last couple of months.
Celestial Farms has been delighting guests with rescue animals for almost a decade in north Jacksonville.
Tap to see photos from the farm.
“We have over 200 animals here, including chickens, rabbits, ducks, turkeys, quail, of course horses of all different sizes, goats of all different sizes, sheep, one cow and pigs,” Veronica Pasciuto, the director of Celestial Farms said.
Many of these animals were rescued after being neglected or abused.
Now when visitors walk into the farm there’s a lot of empty tables.
Normally it would be packed with children or guests from weddings, but because of the pandemic they’re empty and all those events have been canceled.
Celestial Farms went from having hundreds of guests to only 20 per day and that’s a better turnout these days.
The farm teachers people how to take better care of animals and for many the experience is therapeutic.
Families told Action News Jax they would be heart-broken if the farm closes for good.
“It would be devastating there’s no other place like this.
There’s nowhere you can get up close and personal with super friendly farm animals,” Suzanne Boston said.
Pasciuto told her she’s lost over 70 percent of her income and had to cancel some of their major fundraisers because of Covid-19.
“Since we weren’t able to have those big events and raise the funds to carry us over we’re in crisis now,” Pasciuto said.
Celestial Farms said they’ll have to raise at least $50,000 in the next couple of months in order to stay afloat.
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