When Families Struggle, Pets Feel It Too

In this episode of Conservation Stories, host Tillery Timmins-Sims sits down with Erin Irwin, co-founder of The Daisy Project—a new Lubbock-based nonprofit launched in April 2025 to help families feed their household pets during tough times, with the goal of preventing rehoming and abandonment. Erin shares the personal story behind the organization—created in honor of her daughter Haley and inspired by Haley’s love for animals—along with what it’s been like building a “baby nonprofit” from the ground up. They talk about the real-world impact The Daisy Project is already making (including thousands of pounds of food distributed), the boundaries required to keep services sustainable, and how local partnerships—like their space inside Missy’s Resale—help meet needs across the community. More about our guests:  Erin Irwin, Founder, The Daisy Project Email: [email protected] Phone #: 806-901-3363 Facebook We are active on the NextDoor app as The Daisy Project For more information about SARA, please visit sara-conservation.com Support the Conservation Stories Podcast Follow SARA for more updates  •  Instagram  •  Facebook  •  LinkedIn •  X/Twitter Conservation Stories is presented by The Sandhills Area Research Association (SARA). Subscribe now to hear all the interviews. Upcoming Episodes Include:  •Andrew Wright, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service • Darren Hudson, Combest Endowed Chair and Associate Dean, Davis College, Texas Tech University