The eleventh day of Lent
Monday after 2 Lent
As we begin Lent 2010, the global economy continues to be on shaky ground and this puts the poorest populations at even greater risk than usual. Not only are the needy themselves constantly looking for their next meal or for the next meal to feed their families, but the agencies that provide relief are finding that their resources are running low both because of increasing demands placed upon them and also because many of the contributors upon whom they rely are unable to maintain past standards of giving. Major earthquakes in Haiti and Chile have increased the strain on aid agencies. Last week, we suggested a form of active almsgiving close to home. This week we turn to the global community with our suggestion.
One
of our favorite causes is an organization called the Heifer Project. Founded by
a Church of the Brethren relief worker named
Dan
West, the basic principle of the Heifer Project is summarized in West's
realization that "these children don't need a cup, they need a cow." There will
always be a need for short-term relief efforts in the wake of catastrophe, but
the most effective long-term solution to world hunger is to enable people to
produce their own food. Thus, in 1944, the first shipment of 17 heifers left
Pennsylvania for Puerto Rico. Today, Heifer International provides all kinds of
livestock to people around the world, along with training for their care and, in
return, a commitment from the recipients that the gift will be passed on.
Read more here about how Heifer International works. And
here are videos about some current projects.
There are many ways to give to Heifer. You can give a heifer for $500 or a flock of chicks for $20. You can make a personal gift or you can organize your church, your fellow workers, or your neighborhood to give a whole "Ark."
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