HORACE – Farm Rescue, a nonprofit organization that provides planting, haying, harvesting and livestock feeding assistance free of charge to farm and ranch families who have experienced a major illness, injury or natural disaster, received a generous boost of more than $40,000 to operations through Giving Hearts Day.

This year, Farm Rescue supporters raised $42,186 for the North Dakota-based organization. That sum was provided by 474 donors from 20 states, compared to 367 donors from 11 states just one year ago.

Throughout its 2019 operations, Farm Rescue was able to assist 105 farm and ranch families through volunteer-based planting, haying, harvesting, livestock feeding and hay hauling efforts. The organization is also on track to assist its 700th family in crisis this year.

All donations received on Giving Hearts Day will be used to continue Farm Rescue’s mission in 2020, as more rural families realize assistance following unexpected crises.

“A huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone who participated in supporting our mission on Giving Hearts Day,” said Bill Gross, founder and president of Farm Rescue. “Your donation has a direct impact on our ability to continue helping farm and ranch families throughout the region. Thank you for being a Farm Rescuer!”

Giving Hearts Day is an annual fundraising campaign that benefits charitable organizations in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. The 24-hour online day of giving allows individuals to maximize their contributions thanks to matching funds provided by generous donors.

As a whole, this year’s Giving Hearts Day campaign raised over $19 million for nearly 500 North Dakota and northwest Minnesota charities.