Have you heard of Heifer International? It’s a great nonprofit organization that really has a positive impact on the world. Through carefully monitored donations, families in impoverished countries are given hens, geese, goats and other hardy animals. These families are also taught to care for and nurture their animals, so that the healthy creatures give them eggs, chicks to raise, and milk. The adults – usually women – can provide food for their children and sell these home-grown foods at local markets. It is a sustainable approach to ending hunger; the Traveling Mamas admire and fully support the efforts of Heifer International.
April is “Pass the Gift” month for this international nonprofit. Part of the Heifer philosophy is that families who have been helped, pass their gift along by teaching and aiding other members of their communities to do the same. “Pass the Gift” this year also invites everyone who can, to host a dinner, cocktail party, or other event in we share what Heifer International is doing: Fundraising is fun when we do it with our friends, after all. It doesn’t cost much to buy a chicken, and directly impact the quality of life of a hungry child. To help spread the word about April being “Pass the Gift” month, the Traveling Mamas have joined forces with TypeAMom and BookstorePeople. The three sites are all concerned about the incredible poverty and related ills that many children live with in third-world countries. Rather than sit and ruminate, though, we all thought that raising awareness and money for Heifer International would take an active approach to helping improve these families’ lives.
Every reader who leaves a comment under the relevant post on all three sites will see a dollar donated to Heifer International, with a cap of $1,500. Meaning, please leave a comment here, with this TypeAMom post, and this one at BookstorePeople. This fundraiser runs through April 30. There’s never been an easier way to donate money to a truly good cause – and there’s never been a better excuse for a cocktail party, either!
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I am a traveler but not a Mama, but I do think this is a great idea and a good cause. It’s brilliant seeing social media being used to raise money in this way.
Good luck with the fundraising!
You know we love Heifer. Now, off to comment on the other two…
Great idea and great cause. Thanks for doing this!!
So glad you’re back helping Heifer again. Great idea.
It’s great you’re using your influence to help build sustainable communities. It’s a cause we actively support. Next stop, TypeAMom!
Passports with Purpose was so much fun last year…this is a nice way to do a little something extra while thinking about what I can do for this year’s PwP
Thanks to Kim at Bookstorepeople, 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….
Consider me commented! Thanks, Mudslide, for spearheading this.
This is such a great way to help people help themselves. My husband and I have participated in this program in the past. It’s really just such a leg-up for the recipients – instead of a mere hand-out! Bless you guys for sponsoring this!!
great ideas and I promise I will sustain this organization.most of people should do this because it’s for human creatures.they really deserve to live.
I absolutely love this! Every facet of the Pass the Gift is full of love and hope for a richer future.
Now, let me go see about that cocktail party…
Great post. This program sounds like a wonderful way of teaching families how to help themselves.
Great!!!! Glad you’re doing this! We give our granddaughters a gift to Heifer each Christmas.
What a great program! I’m going to start planning my cocktail party with my friends!
Great cause with a sustainable impact on these communities.
If you’re running in any marathons or 5k’s why not raise money for them?
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!
My wife and I have always been interested in HI. I know $1 isn’t too much, but hopefully it will all add up. Great Program!
This is a fantastic cause and a very innovative way to raise money for charity. Good luck with the campaign.
Great cause! Hope the campaign is a big success.
This is a great organization. Thanks for doing this.
Great to see support like this when times are tough. Thanks for all you do.
What a wonderful idea! Thank you.
I’m aware of the wonderful work the Heifer Foundation does and have come across it here in Durban South Africa. Good luck with this campaign. Will link to your blog with my blog this weekend.
Heifer International is a great organization! I hope this fundraiser hits the max for them
Sounds like a wonderful organization. Happy to be a part of this effort!
So happy to be able to support such a worthwhile and thoughtful organization!
This is a wonderful cause. Great work, ladies!
A wonderful cause that I’m happy to support.
Way to go Mamas. What a great Cause!
Supporting Heifer International is a super idea! Good on yah!
sounds good
This is such a wonderful organization; I love how they combine education with giving, so it can be perpetuated throughout the lives of the people they touch.
I want to travel to Fiji.
I have been looking at this reeal neet sites http://www.thefijischool.org &www.fijischool.hubhub.org about the native Fijians.
Rick
It is wonderful that you are doing this. People can make the world better.
Thank you for writing this post travelling moms and continue your great job!
I am here to MAKE YOU PAY
good luck, and thanks for doing this. Looks very worthwhile.
jill
Wonderful idea for a great cause. Good going.
What a wonderful thing for the Traveling Mamas to do! Thank you.
Great idea to help educate people about Heifer International. Thanks for your commitment!
Believe it or not, this is the first time I have ever heard of this specific charity. But wow! What a fantastic organization to support – great idea!
Angela <
Post post
1$
waytogo!! : )
This is awesome…we’ll see how we can help spread the word. http://www.twitter.com/cruisetube
I worked with Dr. Scott Karper (http://www.cvmusa.org//Page.aspx?&pid=975&frsid=38) a few times while my family and I were living in Trujillo Honduras. He’s a Veterinarian working with the Heifer project. It’s awesome. His wife (also a Mom) helps very poor moms in Trujillo with a micro project she started, check it out here; http://hondurastreasures.com/
Moms helping Moms – my wife loved working with these wonderful Moms while we lived there. Now you can help them by buying something from their store.
I worked with Dr. Scott Karper http://www.cvmusa.org//Page.aspx?&pid=975&frsid=38 a few times while my family and I were living in Trujillo Honduras. He’s a Veterinarian working with the Heifer project. It’s awesome. His wife (also a Mom) helps very poor moms in Trujillo with a micro project she started, check it out here; http://hondurastreasures.com/
Moms helping Moms – my wife loved working with these wonderful Moms while we lived there. Now you can help them by buying something from their store.
My family has always had Heifer International as part of our Holiday giving to one another. I think flocks of chickens (eggs) make great Easter gifts.
Great idea! I love supporting Heifer International.
So happy to see you supporting this charity! Thanks for the opportunity to raise some money for them.
Heifer International is such a great charity! Thank you for doing this.
Givem a fish, teachem to fish! Go Heifer! Go Mamas! Thanks for sharing ALL three posts!
Barbara
http://twitter.com/BTalisman
I am a knitter, and I learned about Heifer a few years ago. What a fabulous organization. Thanks for what you are doing!
I learned about heifer from my cultural anthropology class. great cause, catchy name. love it
What a wonderful cause!
Doing something for well being of Mankind or for the people who need your help is incrediable. I am actually representative of one of the NGO working in Pakistan. you can contact me (rafabdul@hotmail.com)
Our church supports this worthwhile organization and I think it is great. They make such a difference in the lives of the people who are given the animals.
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 $60 for this site, which makes that cap of $1,500 all the more humorous) to get my views out there.
Here in the Appalachian Region of the US Heifer Int. makes a difference.
There’s never been an easier way to donate to a good cause!
Great idea for a great cause. Thanks for doing this!
Happy to help!
What a fantastic thing for you all to do. Happy to help in this small way!
Happy to help. Go Heifer! Moo!!
I’ve read about Heifer International for years, and wanted to do something to help. They seem so cool!
Awesome idea and the event went off very successfully!