I Love Heifer
One of my passions is Heifer International. I first learned of the the organization through a gift market at my church. It was a tight year for us, I had just left my law firm job and only had a few clients. But, when I heard the story of Heifer, I asked my husband to give me a pig for Christmas, just a pig that would be delivered to a family in need. Now we give to Heifer regularly. I tell my children how much we can spend, then we pull up the website and shop for animals. Sometimes we tie it into what we’re doing, since my sister is a missionary in Peru we always buy lamas for Peruvians. Keith’s honor thesis in college was on Tibet, so we love to support the projects in that area.
Remember to Share
Heifer International is built on the premise of sharing. Heifer works with villages in underdeveloped countries and trains families, frequently women, in animal husbandry then gives them animals to raise. A goat that provides milk, or a flock of chicks that lay eggs, or a hive of bees that make honey can change a family’s life. These products give nourishment and a new source of money through the sale of the excess milk, eggs or honey.
Families are transformed, yet the beauty doesn’t stop there. One requirement to receiving an animal is that the gift must be passed on in the form of an offspring given to a neighbor. Families and villages gather together in “pass-the-gift” ceremonies to physically transfer an offspring from their arms to the arms of another. These ceremonies occur all over the world, most touchingly among former enemies. Villages that used to exchange gunfire in the former Yugoslavia now share livestock.
You Look, We’ll Pay
Heifer declared April “Pass-on-the-Gift” Month and thousands of people 
across the nation are having house dinners, sales, book groups and events to share what Heifer is doing and raising funds for animals. Traveling Mamas, Type-A Mom and Bookstore People are joining in! We’re donating a dollar per commenters on a Heifer post on each of our three blogs during the month of April with a total cap of $1,500 (we don’t think we would qualify for TARP money if we ended up needing to donate our life savings). We’re all posting today and then there could be a few other posts through out the month. Watch for our giveaway of autographed copies of Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier during the second half of April.
We’re sharing our money; you just need to share a little of your time. Leave a comment on this post, then look at the Heifer information on Traveling Mamas and Type-A Mom and leave a comment on their posts. Make sure we hit our $1,500 goal. Even better, check out the Heifer website and the stories of transformed families and communities, then plan your own “Pass-the-Gift” activity.
Tags: Charity, Heifer, Pass on the gift month
Claire
Kim
42 comments
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April 4, 2009 at 5:28 am
Pingback from Fishbowl Sense » Heifer International – Pass the Gift Month
April 2, 2009 at 6:50 am
Wink Lorch
A very good cause. Best of luck with this great way of fund-raising.
The other posts led me to your site too and as I’ve never seen it before and love books, that’s great!
April 2, 2009 at 6:53 am
pam
Last one… you couldn’t make this ANY easier. Good luck with the fundraising.
April 2, 2009 at 6:55 am
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect
I came here to help with the Heifer project, but I’ll be back to read about your books and bookstores!
April 2, 2009 at 7:04 am
Vera Marie Badertscher
Thanks for supporting my favorite charity. I’ll always support efforts for Heifer.
April 2, 2009 at 7:18 am
Authentic Seacoast Resorts
Thanks for joining with the travelingmamas and TypeAMom to support this great cause!
April 2, 2009 at 7:26 am
Dominique
Making the rounds to support the cause.
April 2, 2009 at 8:01 am
Meagan
I’ve always liked the word Heifer. Something fun about saying it.
April 2, 2009 at 8:29 am
Julie
Oh, Kim, we love this organization too. Happy to post for a wonderful cause.
April 2, 2009 at 8:31 am
unconfidentialcook
Thanks to Kim, we are aware of Heifer Intl. Most recently, again thanks to Kim who’s hosting a beach party–price of admission: donation to Heifer–our daughter chose to give a beehive (she paid for half out of her allowance!). Off now to the other sites….
April 2, 2009 at 8:57 am
Kara Williams
Commented!
April 2, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Erica Mueller
My family was given a milk cow through HI and having worked with this organization, they are close to my heart! Featuring them and all your links on my blog on Saturday!
April 2, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Catherine
That was easy! Good luck with the campaign.
April 2, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Tamara Rice
This is such a great idea. Thanks for setting all this up.
April 2, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Alison Fletcher
Thank you for doing this!
April 2, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Angie
Heifer International is a great organization! I hope this fundraiser hits the max for them
April 2, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Travel with Hole In The Donut
Happy to help out this worth cause. Thanks for spreading the information and being a part of the campaign.
April 2, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Cheryl
So happy to be able to support such a worthwhile and thoughtful organization!
April 3, 2009 at 3:34 am
Kathleen
Wonderful fundraising idea for an amazing organization.
April 4, 2009 at 10:08 am
jill
I am here to MAKE YOU PAY
good luck, and thanks for doing this. Looks very worthwhile.
jill
April 4, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Donna Hull
Great idea for a wonderful cause. Good luck.
April 5, 2009 at 5:02 am
Laura Reece
This is such a wonderful thing to do. Thank you.
April 5, 2009 at 11:58 am
Barb A
Gearing up for my own Passing It On event. Thanks for joining forces for a wonderful organization!
April 5, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Dawn
Great effort for such a good cause.
April 5, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Rich
post post
April 6, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Cruisetube
Giving to gain is the clarion call of the universe. Let’s trouble the waters and cause a Tsunami wave of Love. http://www.twitter.com/cruisetube
April 6, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Maria
This is great, Kim! Keep up the good work!
April 8, 2009 at 7:11 am
threeundertwo
So happy to help. Thanks for doing this!
April 13, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Mara
Love this organization and am so glad you are supporting it. Thank you!
April 17, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Barbara Talisman
Givem a fish, teachem to fish! Go Heifer! Go Mamas! Thanks for sharing ALL three posts!
Barbara
http://twitter.com/BTalisman
April 17, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Lexi @ Wave The Stick
Thank you for doing this – such a great cause.
April 17, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Evelyn
Heifer Int’l is a great organization. Thanks so much!
April 24, 2009 at 7:43 am
Rolf Amundsen
While Heifer’s dedication is admirable, they tend to ignore in typical Caucasian-centric fashion that the majority of the world is lactose intolerant: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3833/is_200007/ai_n8910221/
Also, the idea of introducing new, non-native animals and plants into ecosystems that are already rather fragile should alarm any student of environmental science.
Finally, Heifer is promoting a Western-style diet rich in fats and protein, which is perhaps not suited for every poor person in the world.
I’m all right with donating a dollar (for a grand total of $33 for this site, which makes that cap of $1,500 all the more humorous) to get my views out there.
April 25, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Robin
Here in the Appalachian Region of the US Heifer Int. makes a difference. Our local organization supports sustainable agriculture education. They assist in the farmers markets, and more. Besides for farm animals, they also gives away vegetable and flower seeds. They do so much more…
April 29, 2009 at 9:41 am
Candice @ Bidmycleaning.com
Giving a little time to comment is easy! Supporting all these communities in a self-sustaining way is truly a way to make a real difference.
April 29, 2009 at 11:21 am
Russ
I love Heifer and I love Bookstores. I’ve now posted on all 3 sites! Great idea for a fund raiser.
April 29, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Elizabeth
Happy to help!
April 29, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Bethanyinfl
What a fantastic thing for you all to do. Happy to help in this small way!
April 29, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Al_Pal
I’ve read about Heifer International for years, and wanted to do something to help. They seem so cool!
PS I’m wondering if some people aren’t getting it–I’m seeing way fewer posts at this entry! ;(
April 30, 2009 at 9:31 am
swati
thank you for the chance to help!
April 30, 2009 at 9:39 am
Easton Ellsworth
It went great! Let me know how the final tally looks so I can tell the Bloggers Unite community. Thank you so much!
April 30, 2009 at 10:11 am
Catherine
In response to Mr. Amundsen’s post, I’d like to address a few of his points:
(a) 70% of the world’s population drinks goat’s milk, not cow’s milk. Goat’s milk is much easier to digest. Most of the dairy projects where Heifer works employ goats, not cows (partly because they are small, easily managed, but also because their milk is easier to digest). Heifer also uses 32 different kinds of livestock, so it’s not all about dairy, but rather about giving people a form of self-reliance.
(b) The milk from Heifer goats, water buffaloes, camels, and yes, cows, is a valuable source of protein for people who are often living on the edge. People who receive gifts from Heifer are able to feed their families the milk from these animals, and then to sell the excess milk to send their children to school.
(c) Heifer spends 6 months to 2 years working with and training communities re: the proper care and management of their animals (prior to their receiving them). They also work to help the people choose indigenous and appropriate animals to the culture and climate in which they live. They would not, for example, use camels in Eastern Europe.
They have also worked hard to reintroduce animals that have been wiped out (e.g. Alpacas in Ecuador – their soft padded feet are much easier on the fragile Paramo than the sheep that had been introduced years ago). That is part of the environmental component that goes into each Heifer project. Heifer works hard to ensure their projects are sustainable and work to help the people and the environment. Learn more at heifer.org
(d) While you are certainly entitled to your opinion, the rude dismissal of the fundraising goal of this wonderful website, makes you look not like a goat, but rather like a jack*ss.
Let’s keep going until we help these folks hit their goal!