Sunday, August 25, 2013

The power of $5

What a great week!  Thank you so much to every one who has donated to this project and continue to support the United Hearts Goat and Sheep Farm.  We are continuing to raise money for this project so that we can provide lasting food security to the beautiful children of United Hearts.

I would absolutely LOVE it if we could reach the fundraising goal by September 30, 2013.  So this week, my goal is to receive 20 donations of $5 each.  Just 15 donations of $5 each will buy a female goat for UHCC and provide $1,500 in income over the next 5 years!  Together, we have the power to make a lasting impact on these beautiful children.

Awww...Ezekiel and Meeshek

What does $5 buy us in the states, that we could do without this week in order to help provide food security for these beautiful children.  A Starbucks latte?  A glass of wine at happy hour?  Car wash?  A lunch during the workweek? This week, I plan to pack a lunch every day of the week, and instead donate what I would normally spend on lunch ($10, I usually eat out once a week) to this fund.  I am asking you to do the same- this week go without one of the "extras" and instead donate that money to the goat farm

I often think back on one of the many eye-opening experiences I had during my first trip to the orphanage. Dinner (rice, fish and sauce) had just been served, and each child received their bowl.  A few of the younger boys were being silly and jumping around, and Kelvin's food was accidentally spilled all over the ground (At the old house, meals were eaten outside and his food spilled in the dirt- not salvageable!) He immediately started crying out of fear that he was going to have to go to bed hungry.  He couldn't be dished out another serving because there was no more food.  However, Kelvin didn't go to bed hungry that night.  Why?  Because although the rest of the children would be sacrificing their own dinner (and believe me there was never leftover food), each child gave Kelvin a little of their own serving.  That night Kelvin was able to sleep soundly with food in his belly.

 Kelvin-such a big smile! (And he's really funny too)

This story always reminds me of the reality of life in a developing country. Most of us here in the States are fortunate enough to have the choice to go without.  In Ghana, there isn't a choice- many people are forced to go without food because they don't even have money to buy rice or bread.  Many of the staff and children at United Hearts have/do experience this.  There are no food stamps, government assistance, homeless shelters or food pantries to get help from. If the food runs out...the kids don't eat...And when the average person is living on less than $2 a day, every last kernel of rice is counted.

This Goat and Sheep Farm is more than just "sustainability" and "food security."  It's going to prevent these abandoned and orphaned children from going hungry.  So please, join me in making a small sacrifice this week and donate just $5 to the Goat and Sheep Farm.  We can't do this without your help.

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