Christmas charity

When we think about where to make our donation for Christmas, there are thousands of places that we could help. But since it's Joyce's year to decide what we are doing, and she suggested Heifer Int'l, I think that what we should do. Next year we can donate to another charity. I know some in the family have never heard of this organization. My church has a Alternative Christmas Gift Fair each year and Heifer has been one of the charities that we assist. Our fair is November 15 and there was a flyer in the bulletin today concerning two of the charities that we assist. Even though I have purchased gifts from Heifer for several years, I learned a number of things that I did not know. I would like to share with you what the flyer said. "Heifer Int'l is a nonprofit that alleviates hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation through training and gifts of food and income-producing farm aninals to small-scale farmers and communities worldwide. These animals provide a source of protein, such as eggs and milk, for children, and generate income for families through the sale of animal products.

Heifer began when a Midwestern farmer named Dan West was ladling out rations of milk to hungry children during the Spanish Civil War. He realized: "These children don't need a cup, they need a cow."

West returned home to form Heifers for Relief, dedicated to ending hunger permanently by providing families with livestock and training so that they "could be spared the indignity of depending on others to feed their children".

That's because each family receiving a heifer agrees to "pass on the gift" and donate the femaile offspring to another family, so that the gift of food is never-ending.

This simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 60 years. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 8.5 million people in more than 125 countries.

At our Alternative Christmas Gift Fair on November 15, you can make a gift toward the purchase of a goat, a cow, rabbits, chicks, or many other animals in honor of a friend or relative. You will receive a card to notify your honoree of your gift, and you will give the gift of hope to a hungry, destitute family. (this is a quote to the members of our church)

Don't think that I'm suggesting that we do this through my church, but just wanted to share the info that I got today.

As I mentioned before, I think we should make our donation in memory of Ed, Gloria and Mama, unless Joyce thinks otherwise.

Good night to all.