Feel Good Friday - Heifer International

Looking for a last minute gift that will keep on giving? How about a llama for your mama or some bees for your honey?

You may be familiar with the work of Heifer International, a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to ending hunger and poverty and caring for the Earth. As they explain on their website, since 1944, they have been providing "livestock, trees, seeds and training in environmentally sound agriculture to families in more than 40 countries, including the United States." To date they've helped 20.7 million families!

It works like this - you go to their website and donate an animal, like a sheep, pig or water buffalo. Depending on how much 
 want to spend you can donate the entire animal or a share of it. Prices range from $10 - $5,000 so there's something that will work for everyone.

That animal, and training on how to best care for it, is provided to a family in need. Much like Habitat for Humanity, whose philosophy is to provide people with "a hand up not a hand out", Heifer's core philosophy is 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."

So whether you donate a heifer, some rabbits or a flock of geese (sorry, no seagulls) - your gift will improve the lives of not just one family, but many. Up to nine times the impact!

If you've already finished your Christmas shopping, don't worry. They've got gifts for every holiday so you can shop at Heifer any time of year.

Not yet convinced? Check out this celebrity PSA or watch other great videos on the Heifer YouTube channel. 

As always, you can follow their Facebook page to stay in the loop.

Until next Feel Good Friday... Merry Christmas!!