TERRE HAUTE — “I didn’t think there was an yway we’d be able to do it,” thought Teresa Gettinger, when her senior high Sunday school class came up with the idea of raising funds for a Heifer Gift Ark, which provides gifts of livestock and training to help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways.
But after a giant leap of faith and several fund-raisers, St. Mark United Church of Christ presented a check for $5,000 to Heifer International (www.heifer.org).
On Sunday, Jim Myer, a representative of Heifer International presented a plaque to the youth of St. Mark United Church of Christ in recognition of their efforts. The presentation took place during the Children’s Moment of the morning worship service.
The youth of the church collected spare change, hosted spaghetti dinners, staged car washes and yard sales, and sold garden vegetables and baked items. “Pretty much anything we could think of we did,” said Nathan Gossett, a member of the class.
All youth and members of the church helped in the effort.
A Heifer Gift Ark will provide two cows which can provide milk and income for a village. Two sheep can help families in Arizona produce wool. Two camels help families in Tanzania earn income by transporting agricultural and industrial materials. Two oxen pull plows and carts in Uganda. Two water buffalo help Cambodian families increase rice production through animal draft power. And that’s just the first five sets of animals.
The ark St. Mark youth purchased provides 15 pairs of animals to change lives.
The devastation in Haiti was a reminder to the youth of the importance of their efforts.
Heifer International has worked in Haiti for 10 years, and currently has 16 projects under way with more than 16,000 families and several farmer associations.
“It really brought it home when you see what those people are going through and you know Heifer is already there,” Gossett said.
Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. The youth of St. Mark United Church of Christ are excited to be a part of that effort.
