World Ark Magazine - January/February 2009 - (Page 41)

an ark from the aleys By Austin Gelder, World Ark Associate Editor T he aleys of ConCord, Mass., make giving a family affair, and heifer project participants are enjoying the benefits. The family recently donated an entire gift ark—two each of cows, pigs, sheep, camels, oxen, water buffalo, beehives, goats, donkeys and llamas, plus two trios of ducks, rabbits and guinea pigs, and two flocks of geese and chicks. and, mother allison aley said, the family had a great time doing it. “ever since my kids have been little, i’ve handed them the heifer gift catalog around Christmas time for them to pick out an animal to give in honor of their teachers…. at some point i heard my son referring to the catalog as ‘the most important gift catalog in the world,’ as if that were an absolute fact.” The aleys decided to build on their holiday giving by donating volunteer time each month to support heifer. They asked for pledges for their volunteer hours from family and friends. The family volunteered at a local farm that donates From left, Talia, Ben, Tom and Rangel Aley volunteer every month to support Heifer International. organic produce to shelters, soup kitchens and families in need. They also set up a salvation army angel tree to collect gifts and clothing and served dinner at a shelter for women and children. “it was a great thing because whenever they weren’t so excited about going to volunteer, i just reminded them of the pledges we’d collect for heifer eventually and that brought them around,” allison aley said. n Find out that having a little sometimes means a lot. Try cooking rice with no water or building a fire with no wood. Heifer’s Global Village programs show participants what life is like for millions of hungry people worldwide. The programs are an immersion in other cultures where basics like food, water and shelter become luxuries. Participants work together to solve the problems of obtaining the necessities for life and see how they can become part of the solution to ending hunger and poverty. Learn more about these challenging and rewarding programs at www.heifer.org/globalvillage Feed Your Mind • Take Action • End Hunger 7.25” w.4.75” r . o rg ww x heife januar y/f e bruar y 2009 | wor ld a r k 41 http://www.heifer.org/globalvillage http://www.heifer.org/globalvillage http://www.heifer.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Ark Magazine - January/February 2009

World Ark Magazine - January/February 2009 Contents Letters For the Record The Good Life Asked and Answered Microfinance: A Lot for a Little Business is Buzzing in Honduras The World Grows Smaller Mixed Media Heifer Spirit Heifer Bulletin Calendar First Person

World Ark Magazine - January/February 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.