This Holiday Season, Give the Ultimate Gift: The Gift of Hope

Since 1944, Heifer has helped more than four million families in 116 countries become self-reliant by providing them with "living loans" of livestock. Currently, Heifer supports over 300 projects that create sustainable small-scale farm enterprises to improve nutrition and supplement income. Through its "living loan" of livestock, Heifer promotes self-reliance, which builds self-esteem and helps families lift themselves out of poverty. Not only are families trained in the proper care and maintenance of these animals, but they are also required to "pass on the gift" by giving one or more of their animal’s offspring to another family in need.

Heifer’s colorful and inspiring catalog allows a shopper to purchase an animal (or share of an animal) for an impoverished family in honor of a friend or family member. Shoppers can find a wide range of gift donations to suit their budget, ranging from $10 for a share of a pig (which provides a valuable source of protein and income from the sale of piglets) to $500 for a cow (supplying enough milk for a family to drink, share with neighbors and sell for cash). At a cost of $5,000, the catalog’s feature product, the Gift Ark, is the ultimate way for an individual, business or civic organization to help build a menagerie that will help hungry families for years to come. Each honoree receives a gift card that explains the direct impact this gift will have in helping to reduce hunger in the U.S. and abroad.