EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE: Hanging Out at a Hidden Heaven

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — You’re about to meet a woman who moved here years ago from the farms of the Midwest. She started volunteering at the Poplar Grove Plantation. Folks there liked her and now she’s a full time employee and bringing the past to the present. Sherry Brink is our Extraordinary Person of the Week.

You’ll find all kinds of faces at the Animal Sanctuary at Poplar Grove. Long ones, short ones, curious ones, and one very dedicated one.

“Feeding starts at 8 in the morning,” Sherry Brink told WWAY’s Daniel Seamans.

Brink is an on-site manager at Poplar Grove Plantation.

She was destined for the position.

“I came here in 1989,” she said, “always worked hard in Nebraska in the fields and farms, and always wanted to be here. This is a dream come true to work here with the animals.”

Brink started as a volunteer at Poplar Grove. One of dozens who help maintain the property. Now she’s in charge of barns and grounds and a whole lot of life saving.

“We rescue animals here, rescue horses,” Brink said of the mission, “but Poplar Grove also rescues people and they definitely rescued me here.”

Poplar Grove gives folks a look at what it was like to live on a plantation back in the 19th century. It also offers hands on experience.

“I take 1st graders, kindergartners, birthday parties on tours,” Brink said, “so I always want to make sure we have friendly animals so they can pet them, so it’s really important that everyone is friendly.”

Photo: Some of the smiling faces you will meet at the Animal Sanctuary

Friendly is common ground at this Animal Sanctuary. “This is Jabber Jaw,” Brink said as she held up a beautiful rooster. “He’s a rescue, he came to us, he’ll be a beautiful rooster, nice beard, very friendly so the kids can walk up to pet him.”

They also are home to numerous horses that were abused or neglected and turned over to various organizations who in turn contact the Sanctuary.

“This is Jack, he’s half Arabian, half Quarter horse, he’s a rescue also.”

Brink and the 70 plus volunteers who help her out on the plantation work hard at keeping everything…simple. “They(visitors) always say, ‘this is like a little piece of heaven back here’, and it really is, when I come on to the property from 17, you can feel something come over you,” Brink said.

And the animals absolutely love her.

“Their names are George and Cola,” Brink said as she rubbed the heads of two humongous turkeys who were found wandering in the Monkey Junction area of New Hanover County.

Sherry Brink helps keep a little bit of yesterday around for us today and that…is Extraordinary.

The tours at Poplar Grove don’t start back until March, but you can read all about the plantation, the mission, and the Animal Sanctuary by clicking here.
You can even leave a donation too. Poplar Grove is a non-profit and always in need of help to keep the history alive!