Heifer International and the 2009 Festival of Sharing

September 10, 2009 is the deadline for Festival of Sharing donations to Heifer International. Even though, the Festival of Sharing will be held on it’s usual date—the third Saturday in October—October 18, 2009, please note that contributions for Heifer International have an earlier due date of Sept 10.

Each year congregations and individuals support Heifer International through the Festival of Sharing.  Heifer Staff select one domestic and one international project to receive assistance. The domestic project for 2009 is the Holmes Livestock and Growers Association (HLGA)in one of poorest counties in Mississippi.  Donations of good quality black heifers (Angus or a good cross) bred to calve in the spring are needed to improve the quality and quantity of the herds among farmers in HLGA. Please send cash gifts to purchase heifers the Heifer office at 3009 David Drive, Columbia, MO  65202 by Sept 10, 2009 to allow time to purchase the livestock.  Congregations and/or individuals wishing to donate heifers should also notify Heifer staff by Sept 10, 2009 to allow the time to secure a trailer large enough to transport the entire load.  Each animal must have required health papers.

The international project for 2009 is the East Africa Dairy Development(EADD) in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya.  Initially this venture was listed for a matching fund up to $2.5 million.  However, contributions to EADD have already exceeded expectations and matching goal was completed in June 2008.  Contributions to EADD are still gratefully accepted, but will no longer be matched. For information about either of these projects, please contact Carol Oliver at 573-474-7155 or oliver@umocm.com <mailto:oliver@umocm.com> or the Festival office at 3009 David Drive, Columbia, MO 65202.