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For the founder of Big Bay Ray, a nonprofit that raises money to support rescue horses, donkeys and other animals, community is more than just a noun — to her it’s a verb.
That’s why, with the help of many volunteers, Gretchen Kyle continues to push her community to support organizations like her own over the years so that people don’t just talk about helping animals and supporting recycling efforts for the betterment of the planet, they actually do it.
“Big Bay Ray makes all these products … and 100% of the profits goes to these rescues so that they can continue to feed and care for these animals so when they have the money, they can take on more horses,” the longtime Pleasanton resident told the Weekly.
Kyle first met Ray, a horse, in 2008 at a Milpitas ranch. After caring for him briefly, she had to say goodbye when the ranch leased him out. Two years later, she rescued Ray when he needed a home and brought him to a local ranch.
That’s where, in 2017 shortly before Ray died, Kyle visited him and noticed dozens of feed bags in the trash. She knew she wanted to do something about the bags, which are made out of a synthetic plastic that is not recyclable.
“If you can imagine every barn, every farm and every stable everywhere in California goes into a landfill — that’s crazy,” Kyle said.
But it wasn’t until Ray died that she finally decided she wanted to honor her horse and she thought the best way to do that — given that Ray was rescued — was to help other rescues by raising money for organizations that take in horses like Ray.
“We wanted his name and memory to go on, and the way we did that was to start the nonprofit,” Kyle said.
Kyle takes empty feed bags and turns them into shopping tote bags, wine carriers, small bags and other unique, reusable items which are then sold online via her website. The bags are also available at local stores like JPAR Iron Horse Real Estate in downtown Pleasanton, Rubino Estate Winery and the Western Garden Nursery, located on Vineyard Avenue.
She noted that she doesn’t have the money and resources like other, larger nonprofits to go out and market her organization or advertise it to the community. That’s why she usually relies on her signs scattered around Main Street on storefront windows for promotion, in addition to word of mouth — and she’s eager to work with people and organizations in the community to find new solutions and support for smaller charities like Big Bay Ray.
Ellen Magnie, a 30-year Pleasanton resident, is one of the volunteers who has helped Kyle sew the bags over the last four years.
“She’s everything,” Kyle said of Magnie. “I can’t run this thing without her.”
Magnie said being retired, she has a lot of time on her hands — which is why she likes to do volunteer work for nonprofits such as Big Bay Ray. She said while she still supports human-focused organizations like the food bank, nonprofits that work with animals hold a special place in her heart.
“Animals can’t help themselves,” Magnie said. “It’s nice to be able to help Gretchen help the animals.”
One of the most recent examples of how Kyle’s nonprofit has helped animals directly was just last year when Big Bay Ray raised $2,500 which it donated to the University of California, Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team, which treats animals that are hurt or burned during fires.
“We are so proud of our relationship with them,” Kyle said. “We have also given lots of shopping bags, made the animal feed bags and sent them to the veterinarians, doctors and (technicians) as a thank you for the work they do for animals day in and day out.”
She has also supported other organizations like WarAngel Farms, a nonprofit animal rescue based in Georgia.
“Big Bay Ray is a wonderful supporter of our rescue, their beautiful homemade bags were used in fundraising efforts at our events, which help raise money to save and care for horses that are rescued from the slaughter pipeline,” Casey Montana, who runs the farm with her family, told the Weekly. “Truly wonderful people with big hearts for rescue.”
For more information about the organization, visit bigbayray.com.
