Send a smile to a child in the hospital
A Smile Box brings our farm to a child’s bedside: a plush animal to hold, a pen-pal kit for writing to our rescued animals, and a way to watch them on Smile Cam. Something to open today, and friends to hear from tomorrow.
- 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- 100% of your donation goes to the mission
- Secure checkout by Donorbox
Choose your gift
$30 covers the cost of one Smile Box. Give once, or monthly to keep smiles going out all year.
We use 100% of your donation to deliver smiles to hospitalized children and care for the rescued farm animals they get to know.
He instantly lit up because he had been stuck in bed for a few days unable to get up. … The letters from the animals made Weston so excited to read and write back.
A box to open, and friends to write to
Donors and volunteers make every Smile Box possible. Hospitals receive them free of charge, and hospital staff hand them to children in treatment.
Gifts and goodies
A plush farm animal and other goodies to keep close at the bedside.
Animal pen pals
Children write or draw to the animals, and the animals write back with a personal reply.
Smile Cam, 24/7
Live cameras on the farm, so children can visit their animal friends any time, right from the hospital.
Lovey, the racehorse who found a slower life
Lovey is a black Irish Thoroughbred mare who started out on the racetrack. She wasn’t very fast, and it wasn’t the life for her. Now she lives at Farmhouse Friends, where she likes a quiet spot close to her friends, especially Avalanche, and loves orchard grass, alfalfa and anything turquoise.
Lovey is one of the animals children get to know through Smile Club. Her letters are gentle and thoughtful, and when a child writes back, Lovey answers. A real animal with a second chance can be a very good friend to have when you’re stuck in a hospital bed.
Smile Boxes go to children’s hospitals across Southern California
- Our partner hospitals include Children’s Hospital of Orange County, MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
- 16,800+ Smile Box gifts deliveredto children in the hospital.
- Up to 50 Smile Boxes a monthfor each partner hospital, free of charge.
- 150+ animals rescuedsince Danielle founded the farm.
Candid Platinum Seal of TransparencySee our nonprofit profile on Candid, listed under our former name, Farmhouse Rescue.
Recognized with the 2023 Animal Welfare Hero Award and featured in the Los Angeles Times, Orange Coast Magazine, the OC Register and ABC7. See awards and media
It started with a horse who rescued her back
In 2017, while pregnant with her third child, Danielle Judd was hospitalized with a life-threatening illness. She promised that if she survived, she would dedicate her life to helping others.
After her recovery and the birth of her healthy son, Danielle rescued an off-the-track racehorse and realized the horse was rescuing her too. Farmhouse Friends grew from that moment: a farm in Orange County where rescued animals help bring hope to children in the hospital.
Questions
What does my gift do?
$30 covers the cost of one Smile Box. We use 100% of your donation to deliver smiles to hospitalized children and care for the rescued farm animals: building and delivering Smile Boxes, answering pen-pal letters, keeping Smile Cam running 24/7 and caring for the animals every day.
Who receives Smile Boxes?
Children in treatment at our partner children’s hospitals. Hospitals receive boxes free of charge and staff give them to children. Families can also apply for a child to join Smile Club.
Can I give monthly?
Yes. Choose “Monthly” in the donation form. You’ll get an email receipt for each gift, and you can change or cancel any time by contacting us.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Farmhouse Friends (formerly Farmhouse Rescue) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 85-0556773. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and you’ll receive a receipt by email.
Is my payment secure?
Yes. Donations are processed by Donorbox, our secure online giving platform.
Help a child make friends on the farm
A Smile Box is a small thing to open on a long day, and the start of a friendship that keeps going after it. $30 covers one Smile Box, and every amount helps.
Send a smile