Charitable Giving With Animals

I was reminded by a Preacher the other night to be sure to be thankful for my blessings. An insurmountable tasks it would seem as I have many blessings......a now healthy, cancer surviving wife and beautiful, musically talented daughter; horses who teach me lessons and provide companionship each and everyday; and, four functioning limbs unlike many of the veterans coming home from fighting Islamic extremism overseas,.....and the list goes on. One of the ways we can grateful in a tangible way is to donate to those much less well off than ourselves. Kinda like the biblical quote: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" - Luke 12:48 ....or the contemporary and much used version "to whom much is given, much will be expected".

Some of us may be conflicted giving to charity as the needs are great, and often we may think how just much good are we doing buying meals or Christmas presents for the poor, which brings up the quote: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." - Maimonides, Spanish Philosopher (b. 1135 - d.1204).   

One of the charities I support is the Children's Hunger Fund (CHF). A couple of years ago, I saw where CHF made donations to buy livestock for needy families. Having spent some time in Africa and the Middle East, I know how reliant some families and communities are on livestock to provide milk, fertilizer, meat and eggs, and for barter as well. 

Also, the value of an education for children raising livestock, teaching them responsibility as well as respect and empathy for animals, cannot be measured, nor replicated by just giving gifts. And while some of my most liberal friends will disagree, the value of owning property to bring people out of poverty, cannot be over estimated. "Next to the right of liberty, the right of property is the most important individual right guaranted by the Constitution and the one which, united with that (right) of personal liberty, has contributed more to the growth of civilization than any other institution established by the human race" - William Howard Taft (b. 1857- d.1930), 27th President of the United States (1909-1913), and 10th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1921-1930.  

So I wanted to make people aware of a few organizations that provide, among other things, livestock to poor people across the globe. I do not necessary endorse any of the organization, with the exception of the Children's Hunger Fund, as I do not know a great detail about them. I have read some contrary commentary on all of these organizations who provide animals to the poor, but to my opinion, these counter opinions are mostly from vegetarian, extreme animal rights oriented organizations, and in some respects also have an anti-religious bent, who mostly think the land should not be used for anything but taking pictures - God forbid free grazers.

Heifer International
http://www.heifer.org/

Heifer International's mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth. Dan West was 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.

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.

When many families gain this new sustainable income, it brings new opportunities for building schools, creating agricultural cooperatives, forming community savings and funding small businesses.

Goats $120, Heifers $500, Sheep $120, and other animals

Children's Hunger Fund
http://childrenshungerfund.org/

The CHF mission is to deliver hope to suffering children by equipping local churches for gospel-centered mercy ministry. Children’s Hunger Fund was established in 1991 by president and founder Dave Phillips. Since then, CHF has delivered food and, ultimately, hope to children and families in need in the U.S. and around the world—maintaining 99 percent efficiency for over 20 years.
 
$65 piglet, $225 mature pig; chickens 2 for $14

Samaritan's Purse
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

Franklin Graham's, son of evangelist Billy Graham, is president of Samaritan's Purse. Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dairy Goat $70; Sheep $80; Donkey $350

Oxfam America
https://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/

Oxfam America, a nonprofit organization committed to creating lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Oxfam America is a member of the international confederation Oxfam, 17 organizations working together in over 90 countries. The gift items in this catalog are based on actual projects funded by Oxfam worldwide. By purchasing our charitable gifts, you are making a difference. Give gifts that do good.

Pair of Goats $100; 6 goats $275; one dairy cow $110.