Thank you to Heifer International for sponsoring this post and for the amazing work you do. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine.
I’ve been doing a lot of research on organizations to support this holiday season, and one of my favorites is still Heifer International.
As an animal lover, I am so moved by the idea of gifting animals to families in need to help sustain themselves and their communities.
The goal of every Heifer project is to help families achieve self-reliance by providing them with the necessary tools — in this case, goats, sheep and even bees. In effect, it’s giving them a small business so they can sell or trade items like milk, wool and honey at market. It also helps them feed and clothe themselves, and, ultimately, climb out of poverty.
The core of Heifer’s model — and something I adore — is the idea of Passing on the Gift. This means families share the training they receive, and pass on the first female offspring of their livestock to another family. This extends the impact of the original gift, allowing a once-impoverished family to become donors and full participants in improving their communities.
How empowering and forward-paying is that?
By 2020, Heifer aims to help 4 million families achieve living incomes. This income will allow them to send their children to school, feed themselves adequately across every month of the year, and have proper housing, water, hygiene and other essential resources. Just look at the difference it makes:
Although there are lots of ways to help, Heifer’s animal gifting program is a fantastic way to teach kids about the power of giving because kids love animals! You can even make your own goat to Goat-a-Bomb a photo — which I hope you’ll share on social media using hashtag #GiveHeifer.
Please check out the Heifer International catalog and remember that the impact of every gift you give from it is multiplied so many times over.
I just bought a goat in honor of the people who took me on the trip where I took the picture of me with the beauty above. I hope you’ll gift an animal, too, and pass on the gift.
Follow Heifer International on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Sounds like a wonderful organization. Definitely a great mission and wonderful long term goal.
buying gifts like these at Christmas is such a great way of spreading love and joy. We have so much and don’t need more “stuff” at Christmas, so buying a gift like this on behalf of someone is perfect. We’ve done chickens, goats, education packs – the list is endless (that little goat in the last pic is adorable!)
What an incredible organization and a great gift idea for the holiday season. The awareness you bring will undoubtedly provide so much to so many in need. Hallelujah.
YESS! This is a Hanukkah gift to many in my life this year as well.
It’s a great gift idea especially for like minded friends who already have too much clutter.
What a wonderful mission. As an animal lover myself I am all for saving the animals.
I get this catalog every year, too. This year, we are giving closer to home in a big way. Blog post to come.
Great gift idea! Great cause!I love that picture of you peeking out of the edges.
I saw this on Rachel Rae about a week ago. I love this idea!
This is a fantastic idea! Thank you for letting me know about this great gift option.
I heard of this last year and I agree it is a great idea. I want to do this this year
Adding this to my list of organizations to support. Such a worthy charity with a great mission. Love the photo, too!
What a wonderful mission and especially at Christmas time we can share the love by purchasing your gift ideas. My friend always gives a donation to animal charities in lieu of gifts and it really raises the awareness.
I love stuff like this!
Honestly, you can only stuff so much junk into one house before you’re ready to scream. This looks like a great way to spread some holiday cheer and not break the bank!
THIS is fabulous: “This means families share the training they receive, and pass on the first female offspring of their livestock to another family.” The gift that keeps on giving… and giving and giving. Fabulous organization. Thank you for the gift idea!
I love this organiation and was just talking to my grandchildren about them last night suggesting they go in together. They lover the idea.
Lois – I have heard “of” the Heifer project for years, but never had the details. Thanks so much for a great post on this wonderful cause. I had no idea that there were so many different ways to support it. We have so much darn stuff. I’m all about using our funds to help others!
Who would have thought?What a great idea to give as a gift. Goats are so cute.
We just got their catalog in the mail. My son doesn’t want much for Christmas so I thought we would do this in his name.
I have loved doing this for years! It is such an awesome organization and a wonderful way to teach your children the ultimate in what it means to give to others. And the materials they have always sent for me to use to teach the children have been great!
What a great way to give a gift that continues to help . Such a great organization and so many benefit. I love this idea!
Sounds like a great organization. Definitely a great mission and amazing long term goal. Love it!
What a great idea to help make an impact on the community. There is so much to be grateful for this holiday season and we can all do our part to help others.
Fabulous idea!