Lewis Oliver Farm Sanctuary Of Northport Receives $2K Donation

NORTHPORT, NY — Lewis Oliver Farm Sanctuary in Northport received a $2K donation from the Northport/East Northport Kiwanis Club, the farm announced.

Rich Boziwick, a Northport Village trustee and the club's person of the year, chose Friends of the Farm, a nonprofit that funds the animal care, gardens, and educational programs at the farm, as his charity of choice, leading to the donation.

"We would like to publicly thank both the Kiwanis Club and Rich as well as help spread the word that our animal care and operations are solely dependent on private donations such as this and others," Friends of the Farm wrote.

Boziwick said his family lives near the farm and has associated with it for "many years."

"I remember my little kids, who are now in their 20s and 30s, used to go to the farm and pick up milk and the newspaper and talk to Bill [at the farm]," Boziwick told Patch. "Santa would be there every year. We segued into the fact of working with them on the Cow Harbor Race."

Boziwick is the director of the Cow Harbor Race and said Lewis Oliver Farm Sanctuary has always supported the event.

"This is just a way to give back," Boziwick said. "I think it’s great for the Village of Northport."

Melanie Marzano, a volunteer at the farm, said the donation will be "very helpful." The farm has medical bills for its aging animals that can catch volunteers off guard, she said.

"It’s easy enough to budget for what we’re going to use every month on hay, straw, bedding and food," Marzano said. "It’s the medical expenses that can take us by surprise. This $2,000 can go a long way toward treating one of our goats or Annabelle the cow if they have an unexpected health issue."

Boziwick said he is "very happy" he was able to support the farm.

"I feel it’s a part of the village that’s been there for so many years, and it should be there for many, many years to come," he said. "If there’s anything we can do to assist them in fulfilling their mission, that’s great. We hope that people see what we’ve done and also participate, too, and support them."

Marzano said the bulk of the farm's financial support comes from the community.

"The more people who know that we rely on donations, the more helpful it is," she said. "In the past, a lot of people have been under the impression that the town or county funds us. They really don’t fund the animal care. So that’s all on us, and we’re a bunch of volunteers. Any help in getting the word out would benefit the animals."

Bob Doherty, president of Northport/East Northport Kiwanis Club, said Boziwick is a "great guy" who is "low key." Boziwick initially did not want the recognition of the club's person of the year, Doherty said.

"Then we thought about the idea of getting a donation to the farm, and he was all in for it," Doherty said.

Doherty said Boziwick's choice to support Lewis Oliver Farm Sanctuary was a "great idea."

"Being a local from Northport, I know the issues the farm has of raising money and people taking care of the animals," Doherty said. "We spread the word a lot through Kiwanis. We try our best ... The idea that maybe one, two, three or four families will learn about the farm from that donation would be great. I wish more locals would decide to support it. I don’t think they do enough legwork on their own to support it. It’s a small group, but there’s no reason they can’t have a lot supporters to help that farm run itself."

Doherty cited the Kiwanis motto of "We're here for the children who are in need."

"Certainly having a farm that all the children in the community visit is important to us and our group," Doherty said. "We all supported donating to the farm. With the farm, we keep it as a community that goes back into time. [Northport] was always a community that had pastures and farms. This is the last of a dying breed."

Boziwick said he enjoys passing the farm on walks and runs.

"I love that it’s physically close to where I live," he said. "My daughter was home with our first grandchild. I think they probably made a trip to the farm, just so he could see it. It’s very personal to us, and it should be to the entire village of Northport."

Doherty said the Northport/East Northport Kiwanis Club donates to various causes each year. The club is actively recruiting members. Interested people can show up to a meeting held at 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday at the Northport Yacht Club. Or people can email Doherty at PBKD223@optonline.net.