It's been almost one year since a Lowell horse barn was set on fire, killing 13 therapy horses. Twenty-year-old Payton Mellema pleaded guilty to arson and animal cruelty charges.
The Barn for Equine Learning owner Kat Welton, was in the running for a $15,000 grant and was selected as one of two winners earlier this week.
Welton essentially had to start from scratch with rebuilding her barn, getting new horses and gaining community support. But because of the community's involvement in the helping the barn get back on its feet, Welton earned the Alba Botanica Do Good Do Beautiful grant.
"It recognizes women that are strong women, fearless females that are primarily working in the non profit sector to do good," Welton said.
Out of 250 candidates, Welton made it to the top five, and then it was the communities turn to voice their vote.
"I got stopped at Meijer with people saying 'I'm going home to vote which was awesome,'" Welton said.
Welton along with another woman who founded a non profit, won the grant money and a trip to New York.
"You're always surprised, I was honored to be a part of this group of women, extraordinary women doing extraordinary good in this world so just to be top five was amazing, but it wasn't a me thing, it was a community thing," Welton said.
The barn will use that money to pay for a part time volunteer coordinator.
"This volunteer coordinator would help us with the influx of wonderful people that are coming to support the barn," Welton said.
Ever since the fire she said it's been the West Michigan community that drives her forward.
"It's the backbone, after our tragedy I mean it would have been so easy to say, 'I'm done, I can't do this', there's not a day that goes by that we don't have tears, but this is bigger than I am and this is a need we have right here in our area," Welton said.
The barn is hosting an open house and a benefit dinner on May 18 and 19. The benefit fundraiser will be a dinner at the barn with a silent auction.
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