Non-profit of the Week: Heifer International

By Dan Estabrook - October 21, 2008 If it was up to you to solve world hunger, how would you go about doing so? Sending bags of rice - while a quick fix - is not a long-term sustainable practice.  Sending plane loads of supplies, water, food and other necessities has resulted in many of the goods never reaching people who really need them. How about sending a cow?  A pig?  A bunch of chickens?  Heifer International has proven that this model works and wins a spot as Tonic's Non-Profit of the Week as a result. The organization helps those in poverty reclaim their well-being and their lives.  Heifer sponsors programs in so many areas it is difficult to keep count. Heifer provides livestock to poor families in developing nations to use for farming, food production, and fertilization. In addition, the organization teaches animal husbandry and skills for flexible and sustainable rural farming. The idea: empowering communities with resources and education toward self-sufficiency is a better long-term solution than handouts for fighting hunger. It also teaches sustainable agricultural practices, animal care practices, incorporates AIDS education into its programming and provides micro-enterprise loans (both in the form of no-interest loans of livestock and small monetary loans to farmers and their families).  I am impressed that Heifer works all over the world, including right here in the United States with programs serving those in Appalachia, Native American populations and other rural and poor communities within our own country. Since 1944, about 8 million families have benefited directly from Heifer's programs. How can you help?  Check out Heifer's "Get Involved" page which presents volunteer, business partnership and giving opportunities - the organization supports Learning Centers to teach you to become involved in providing sustainable futures out of poverty to others. “Tonic's Non-profit of the Week” is a regular feature at Tonic News. If you would like to nominate a non-profit for consideration, please email dan@tonic.com. The non-profit must be an accredited 501(c)3. We look forward to your submissions!