PRESS RELEASE -March 20, 2000: Wild Oats Market in Reno, Nevada, sponsored a 3-19-2000 Souper Sunday luncheon benefit for Wild Horse Spirit, Ltd., a non-profit hands-on wild horse advocacy organization that rescues injured, sick or jeopardized wild horses and currently provides "sanctuary" to 20 rescued wild horses.

For a donation, Wild Oats Market provided soups, including Lentil and Artichoke, organic baby green salad with a choice of delicious dressings, healthy hearth breads, and a variety of light deserts. People enjoyed professionally prepared organic luncheon under a large outdoor tent in front of the market, music played by the bluegrass band, Cherokee, and Wild Horse Spirit’s informational table.

As an extra attraction, two rescued "Spirits" from Wild Horse Spirit were present. Both young horses enjoyed the children and the adults who gave them the market’s organic carrots and apples. SPIRIT, a 4 month old paint colt when rescued, went to UCD twice for specialized surgery to treat a severe fractured left elbow, and BUGZ, a then 6 month old filly and a survivor of the 1998 Christmas Holiday shootings of 34 wild horses, east of Reno/Sparks, in the Virginia Range, was down, weak and severely mal-nourished when rescued. Spirit and Bugz, both orphaned, are great buddies now.

Wild Oats Market has sponsored various non-profit organizations for similar events, a community service greatly appreciated by all.