The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Exeter receives donations five days a week from the Exeter Hannaford including breads, pastries, produce and meat that is nearing expiration or needs to be moved to make room for new products. Volunteers from SVdP or Twin Rivers Associates, a day program in Stratham for adults with disabilities, stop by every day to pick up what has been set aside for the Food Pantry.
At the end of each day, Richard Marston rings the back doorbell of the Food Pantry and loads his truck with the bread and produce that clients don’t take to prepare for the delivery the next day. Richard’s parents, Dr. Bob and Debbie Marston, started Amesbury Animal Hospital in 1967 and have created a farm and horse rescue on a quiet slice of land on Giles Road in East Kingston.
Illneva Farm (the clever name came from the idea that Dr. Bob never thought he would have his own farm) now cares for hundreds of animals including horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens and bunnies. “Over the years, or more like decades, I can’t even begin to think of how many animals we have rescued” said Debbie Marston. There are currently eleven horses living at the farm, which come from various places like vet clients, auctions, and some are PMU horses, pregnant mares used to make the hormone replacement therapy drug Premarin.
Aside from the horse rescue, Illneva Farm raises beef cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens for their eggs and meat, and goats for their milk. It’s not uncommon to see a few dogs roaming around as Debbie Marston also serves as the Animal Control Officer for the community.
The bread, pastries, and produce from the Food Pantry provide a large portion of the feed needed for the chickens and pigs and helps reduce the cost of feeding the animals. The proceeds from the farm make it possible for the Marstons to rescue and rehabilitate the horses. Giving what the SVdP clients don’t need to the animals at the farm continues the life of food that would otherwise go to waste.
Where many grocery stores throw out bread and produce before its even gone bad, we are able to give it to those in need and then to a local farm with a great mission. It’s a win win situation for all three organizations involved.
