By EPIC Outreach | April 2025

April is a month rooted in growth—flowers bloom, animals stretch into springtime sun, and we as humans are invited to slow down, reflect, and reconnect. At EPIC Outreach, we’re celebrating two powerful forces this month: the incredible volunteers who keep compassion moving forward, and the importance of protecting our beautiful planet, home to all living beings.

Behind every filled water trough, every clean stall, and every rescued animal who feels safe for the first time in their life—there’s a volunteer. And not just one. It takes a village of compassionate hearts and helping hands to make EPIC Outreach thrive. From early morning feedings to weekend sanctuary tours, our volunteers show up with purpose—offering not only their time, but their love. Some volunteers come to connect with animals. Others come to heal parts of themselves through service. All of them leave something behind: footprints of kindness that ripple outward.

Whether it’s brushing a horse, preparing fresh straw for the piglets, or simply sitting quietly beside an animal who needs comfort, our volunteers embody what it means to lead with love. This month, during National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 20–26), we want to shout a heartfelt THANK YOU from the rooftops (and the pastures). You are the heartbeat of this sanctuary, and we are so deeply grateful.

As we honor the people, we also honor the planet. April is Earth Month, and it serves as a reminder that how we treat the Earth directly affects the animals, people, and ecosystems around us. At EPIC Outreach, our mission is rooted in compassion not only for animals, but for the planet they call home. We teach that choosing kindness means reducing waste, adopting animals instead of buying them, and making choices that consider the bigger picture.

This month, we challenge you to:

  • Use less plastic (refill, reuse, recycle).
  • Plant something—even if it’s just one flower or herb.
  • Take a walk in nature and notice the life it holds.
  • Make one sustainable change in your home, even if small.

Kindness to the Earth is kindness to all. When we care for the planet, we’re creating a safer, more loving world for pigs like JIMMY, donkeys like Zeke and Zimba, cats like Mousy Moo, and so many others.

Kindness doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful. Whether it’s one hour of volunteering, picking up litter on a walk, or sharing the mission of EPIC with a friend, it all matters. This month, we invite you to reflect on how you show up in the world—for yourself, for the animals, and for the planet. And if you’re ever unsure where to start? Come visit. Spend time with the animals. Breathe in the fresh air. Feel the rhythm of the sanctuary. It’s a place where compassion grows—sometimes in quiet moments, sometimes in muddy boots, but always with heart.

To the volunteers: Thank you for being the difference.
To the Earth: We promise to keep doing better.
To you, reading this: You are a part of this movement. And we’re grateful.

Happy Earth Month, and Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week.
With love from the sanctuary,
Jessie and the EPIC Outreach Family