Looking for reputable charity that gives farm animals to families in other countries

[henri + katie's mum]

The basics of these charities is that you donate money and they buy a chicken, goat, pig, etc and give them to needy families in other countries. The families get the benefits of the animals - eggs, milk, meat, etc.

Has anyone done anything like this? I did a quick search and there are many more of this type of charity than I imagined.

I know there are tons of organizations both here and in the world who need help, but this type speaks to me most. I know there is overhead and stuff like that, but it seems nice that people will actually get something. When you donate just money, you don't really know where it goes.

Anyone have any experience here?

 

[eeyorefan74]

The two I've heard of are Heifer International and Samaritan's Purse. My DD's class last year used the Samaritan's Purse catalog and chose a donation to give as a class. I think they picked a flock of chickens. Samaritan's Purse is the Christian charity that does Operation Christmas Child, where they give wrapped shoe boxes full of gifts to children around the world. They also do a lot of humanitarian work. Billy Graham's son, Franklin, is the head of the organization.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Here is one that I know is reputable:

http://www.heifer.org

Edited to add: Samaritan's Purse that the PP mentioned is also a reputable charity.

 

[bechtelca@comcast.ne]

heifer international is a great organization with an office in our community. My son's class is donating to this project for the 2nd year in a row. The kids really get into it.

 

[disneyagogo]

Heifer International is very reputable and is not affiliated with any denomination. This is the link for their Gift Catalog: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/


Good luck!
disneyagogo

 

[Bibbidi]

You can donate things like chickens, ducks, etc through World Vision. They are a very reputable organization.

 

[sparkyboy]

Heifer Intl. is the one that our church uses for our vacation Bible School each year and is quite reputable. You can match the amount of your donation then to purchase several animal types-either so many flocks of ducks, so many pigs, etc. Then in turn, these animals are breed and passed on to others so that they might have eggs, milk, etc. It's a wonderful opportunity to help and a great organization.

 

[lonegirl]

I second the World Vision. Also a great catalog to pull out and show your kiddos when they are getting a little too big for their britches and getting the "gimmees" "I wants". I told them, "see, this boy will have a great Christmas because we bought his family a CHICKEN." Shows great perspective. I also like it because it has affordable options too, like a soccer ball for a village for $12.

 

[Green Tea]

Heifer

 

[NewCrew42]

Heifer is here in Little Rock. It is very reputable. Awesome organization! Check it out!

 

[DVCTiff]

I thought Heifer had changed its verbage to read that gifts were symbolic and that the receivers were not necessarily given "a chicken" or whatever. Maybe it makes no difference and long as the giving is done.

 

[patsal]

I second the World Vision. Also a great catalog to pull out and show your kiddos when they are getting a little too big for their britches and getting the "gimmees" "I wants". I told them, "see, this boy will have a great Christmas because we bought his family a CHICKEN." Shows great perspective. I also like it because it has affordable options too, like a soccer ball for a village for $12.

I'm only laughing because I did the same thing to my kiddos the other day! When I showed them how much they could give to others for so very little they were impressed adn humbled a bit. Next thing I knew DS was pulling money form his paycheck into four categories instead of three, when I asked what the new pile was for he said "chickens" I was confused for a minute then I got it!

 

[clh2]

I thought Heifer had changed its verbage to read that gifts were symbolic and that the receivers were not necessarily given "a chicken" or whatever. Maybe it makes no difference and long as the giving is done.

I noticed this in their fine print. However, we proceeded with buying a share of the knitting basket for my mom's birthday last month (as that is what my parents requested in lieu of gifts.) My mom was thrilled with this, because for as long as I can remember, she's been a knitter.

My guess is - it is a lot easier from a marketing perspective to do this.

 

[Cinder-Belle]

One of my co-workers is really into this one:

http://www.oxfam.org.uk

It is out of England, but you can still shop with them for animals, food, etc. to go to the needy. You can read all about the organization that I believe was started by college students at Oxford during a famine in other countries. They still supply actual animals, not just symbolic.

She studied in England for several years and still has contacts there. It is supposed to be a great group. She still buys most of her gifts through them. She wears there logo on her lanyard at work. She got me turned onto this and we are buying a few animals this year.

Now there is an OXFAM from the US, but it does more symbolic giving of animals. Here is there link:

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

Have fun!

 

[bavaria]

I thought Heifer had changed its verbage to read that gifts were symbolic and that the receivers were not necessarily given "a chicken" or whatever. Maybe it makes no difference and long as the giving is done.

Heifer does not necessarily present someone with one duck based on an online gift. They work with a variety of projects around the world - visit their website to see examples of things they have done in many countries, including in America.

http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.201478/

Having seen the results of some intiatives I feel confident in donating and recommeding them.

 

[roadtripper]

I second the World Vision. Also a great catalog to pull out and show your kiddos when they are getting a little too big for their britches and getting the "gimmees" "I wants". I told them, "see, this boy will have a great Christmas because we bought his family a CHICKEN." Shows great perspective. I also like it because it has affordable options too, like a soccer ball for a village for $12.

I love Heifer and love your use of the catalog. They do a live nativity near us in Central MA-- at their farm in Rutland, where they raise some of the animals. Great organization.

 

[Goodlife]

We are browsing the Samaritan's Purse gift giving catalog now. They are solid organization who are all about reaching out to the truly needy all around the world. They fly babies to medical care for heart needs, build homes, put in water filters, provide goats, chickens, stock pond fish. They do alot, and have many opportunities for designated giving.

 

[disneybound31]

World Vision- my family does this every year since my brother died in the line of duty in 2004. It just makes sense to us to give to others who can benefit so greatly instead of spending more and more on 'stuff'. We still get some stuff, but get great joy from gifting animals and soccer balls (have done that in my sons name) in each others honor. The first year my mother bought 2 oxen yoked together in honor of my father and brother and when the card came she wrote an inscription about how the 2 of them were and always will be connected by their strength and love. Not a dry eye I tell you!!

I love picking out the strangest animals/gifts to gift in my sisters name. One year I sponsored reforming prostitutes in her name. She loved it. Each gift comes with a very nice and descriptive card that says 'Four ducks given to a family in ---- in honor of Jessica' . We each read our cards out loud and it has added so much to our lives and to those lives we may never meet. That is Christmas, I say.