Dandelion Moms Project Kindness :: Helping End Poverty and Hunger with Heifer International

Image courtesy of goatshowdoc

It is so exciting to have the holiday season upon us, and for many families this is a time filled with festivity and fun. Unfortunately, for the more than 800 million people in the world that go to bed hungry every night, this time of year isn’t filled with the joy that it should be. Together we can change that, by giving a gift this holiday that can make a meaningful difference for a family in need.

Heifer International is a nonprofit community development organization dedicated to helping end hunger and poverty while working to protect the environment and care for the Earth. Since 1944, Heifer has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Gifts through Heifer International go to families around the world living with hunger and poverty so that smallholder farmer families can feed themselves and their communities, women who never had a voice before find one and become leaders in their communities and children can go to school and realize their dreams.

The organization was created by Dan West, a farmer from the American Midwest and member of the Church of the Brethren who went to the front lines of the Spanish Civil War as an aid worker. His mission was to provide relief, but he soon discovered the meager single cup of milk rationed to the weary refugees once a day was not enough.

And then he had a thought: What if they had not a cup, but a cow?

That “teach a man to fish” philosophy is what drove West to found Heifer International. And now, nearly 70 years later, that philosophy still inspires our work to end world hunger and poverty throughout the world once and for all. (Source: Heifer.org).

How it Works:

When you give a gift from Heifer International’s Most Important Gift Catalog in the World, you’re giving something big— the tools that can help move a family beyond hunger and prove their power over poverty. It becomes more than a present; it’s a gift for a better tomorrow. I love that this organization provides tools for individuals and families to help themselves and their community. By providing a gift of an goat for instance, this helps feed a whole community.

Here is an excerpt from their website:

We empower families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity – but our approach is more than just giving them a handout. Heifer links communities and helps bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. Our animals provide partners with both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market.

So let’s work together dandelion moms and see what we can do to help those in need. For $120 you can send a goat to a family in need or simply purchase a $10 share of a goat. Fill out HPI’s online form with your friend’s contact information and they will receive an e-card thanking them for the donation. This would be a great gift to give out over the holidays for several people in your life – and this way you know a family will be getting a goat, or cow or other gift you help provide for them. Or if you aren’t able to donate this time, please share this post to let others know about this wonderful organization that is focused on helping end hunger and poverty while helping people help themselves. They also offer ways to get involved and run a fundraiser in your community! Thank you for helping in any way you can lovely dandelion moms!

Other Ways to Help Those in Need this Holiday Season:

Fundraise in your community for Heifer. They offer some suggestions and helpful advice here.

Donate food to your local food bank.

Fill some backpacks with food and hand out to any local homeless.

Contact your local shelters to see what their needs might be and if you can help out.

About dandelion moms Project Kindness:

Each month we feature an individual or organization who are working hard to help those in need. We feel that by spreading seeds of kindness and support we are all working together to make our world even better and helping those who might need some help. We have helped provide books in a grass roots effort to bring a library the town of San Francisco de Macoris in the Dominican Republic, provided Project Night Night Tote Bags for children in shelters and supported the Always #LikeAGirl campaign to help empower our girls to be confident in themselves and their abilities. Please help spread these seeds of kindness in any way that you are able!