Heifer Project Holder wins Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award

Daniel Romerm helps water the children's garden at Heurto de la Familia in Eugene, OR.

Through a partnership between Why Hunger and the Harry Chapin Foundation, the Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award program distributes cash grants to grassroots organizations in the United States that have moved beyond charity to creating change in their communities. Organizations are "judged outstanding for their innovative and creative approaches to fighting domestic hunger and poverty by empowering people and building self-reliance." On Nov. 19, 2009, it was announced that out of 225 applicants, Heifer partner Huerto de la Familia would receive one of these prestigious awards.

Heifer implements the Small Farmers Project of Lane County in partnership with Project Holder Huerto de la Familia. Huerto de la Familia's mission is to alleviate poverty and hunger among low-income Latino families by assisting them to grow their own organic food. The organization will use its Self-Reliance Award to hire a nonprofit consultant to develop capacity within the organization to create an Economic Development Program to provide job training and help develop small businesses related to gardening and agriculture.

Basilio Sandoval sells organic strawberries on the farm's second day of sales.

The Latino families who make up the Small Farmers Project of Lane County/ Pequenos Agricultores del Condado Lane of Eugene, Ore., are growing and selling organic vegetables, raspberries, strawberries and pastured turkeys to improve each family's economic situation. This project works with 10 new families and 20 families who will receive a gift passed on from previous Heifer recipients. All families will gain experience and enhance their knowledge in production of sustainable and organic agriculture and animal husbandry. Each family also plans to raise food for themselves. By organizing, the families are demonstrating that working as a collective can accomplish more than by working alone.

Additional winners of this prestigious award in 2009 include previous Heifer partner Growing Home and potential Heifer partner New Orleans Food and Farm Network.