As I was perusing my usual blogs and friends’ updates, I came across a coworker who had purchased a goat for a hungry family in a developing country. What? A goat? For strangers? I had to know more. And now, I’m in LOVE with this concept.
Heifer International (http://www.heifer.org/) is a global nonprofit organization that has taken a proactive stance to ending world hunger and poverty. Instead of filling the cups of hungry people, their mission is to provide families and communities with livestock and crop education and resources so that they can feed themselves. And the most amazing part of the project? Those who receive help from Heifer have to agree to give an offspring of their animal or seeds from their produce to someone else in need – they have to pass it on.
Heifer has deeply impacted communities across the globe: Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia and North America. The stories of families who have taken some honeybees or a flock of chickens and not only improved their own diet and nutrition, but have given bees or chicks to their neighbors and sold honey or eggs to supplement their income are amazing. I read a particularly moving story about a family that struggled to make 10 cents a day to feed themselves. One flock of chickens changed everything, and now they make $2 a day… which still sounds tragic, but that’s enough to eat healthy, nutritious meals and provide for a much more comfortable life in Uganda!
Not to be cynical, but I DID get concerned about the wellbeing of these animals; what if the goat dies because it isn’t properly cared for? What if they kill it to eat it? Heifer thought about that too. They have a veterinary staff that educates people and monitors the ongoing health of the livestock. Heifer is founded on 12 cornerstones, one of which is responsible and humane animal treatment. Other cornerstones are passing on the gift, sustainability and self-reliance, sharing and caring, nutrition and income, and family focus.
{I also love that they support gender equality and require that women and wives be involved in the decisions and management of the production.}
After spending a little time reading through the site and looking at the gift catalog, it just seemed to click in my head and heart. The whole reason I love giving gifts – and don’t get me wrong, I LOVE giving gifts – is because it feels so good to show people that I care about them and want to do something special for them. THIS is something I can do in my family’s honor that is REALLY significant. My usual little gifts and trinkets are fun for a while (or never at all, like the time I got my stepdad NASCAR tickets that he forgot he had and didn’t go. boohoo), but giving a cow for milk or beans to start a coffee crop would be a gift that truly matters. That’s what my family deserves – gifts that change the world. That’s how much I love them.
I encourage you to rebel against the consumer Christmas this year. Consider doing something really magical by adding a community in Guatemala (or Uganda, or the Gulf Coast, or Kosovo) to your Christmas list. Make a gift in honor of someone you love to share their legacy with strangers.
My Grandpa isn’t here anymore, but he was a wonderful man, and I’d like to share his love and compassion with others. So Merry Christmas to a family across the globe who will be receiving a flock of chicks from my family this year in honor of Dennis McCann.
Grandpa with some of his grandkids (and Grandma)... Lovely man. No matter what you do, do it with love and good tidings.
XOXO
JAM
