The Knitter's Gift Basket

For several years now my husband and I have been supporting Heifer International a charitable organization which gives animals to needy families around the world enabling them to become self sufficient and productive citizens in their own countries.

Heifer International does this by collecting donations from people everywhere and using that money to purchase animals that they know can provide good incomes as well as food and clothing for the families in need.

Yesterday, I got the latest Heifer International catalog in the mail. While browsing through it I came upon The Knitter's Gift Basket and I immediately thought about how blessed we are here to be able to buy wonderful yarn and fiber of many types and colors from great web sites like KnitPicks or from our LYS. This gift basket includes an alpaca, a llama, a sheep, and an angora rabbit. Donors can choose between paying for a share of the basket for $48 or paying for an entire basket for $480. The animals will provide wool to clothe a family or to increase it's income when the wool is sold to yarn manufacturers.

Nothing provides more self respect than being able to support oneself and one's family. The pride and greater security the families gain is priceless.

There are other gift baskets to choose from and other animals, including water buffalo, rabbits, honeybees, sheep, goats, camels, heifers, chickens, ducks and geese. A share in a rabbit basket which includes three rabbits is only $10 or $60 for all three. As you know rabbits multiply quickly, provide manure to fertilize vegetable gardens and are easy to care for. A share in a water buffalo is only $25.

I am a beekeeper and very aware that pollination is essential for many food crops. So, every year I donate the money to buy packages of bees, hives and beekeeper training and it's only $30 per set!! Each package contains roughly 10,000 bees! At that price I am able to give many bees and hives, which will provide honey, wax, pollination and pollination services income.

I knit up a lot of alpaca and wool each year. I am sure you do, too. Think how The Knitter's Gift Basket might provide an income for a family and WE might actually knit up that very fiber in the future.

The web address for Heifer International is www.heifer.org. I think Heifer International is the finest charity out there serving the world's needy people. I hope you'll check it out.

Tags: Heifer International, alpaca, angora rabbits, camel, charity, gift basket, heifer, knitting, rabbits, sheep, More…spinning, weaving, wool, yarn

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Comment by Frances Tornese on November 22, 2010 at 9:11pm: Yes, I am excited. I look forward to having my family room back, no longer a bedroom. I, also, look forward to being able to drive again and go places on my own, like my LYS. It's been over a year and I am ready!

Comment by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on November 22, 2010 at 8:57pm: Frances, Great news! So happy that you are doing so well. Walking is a good step... LOL

Comment by cherylbwaters on November 22, 2010 at 8:57pm: Oh that is terrific news! I'm so excited for you! This is a monumental day! Your first blog was approved for posting and you walked!

Comment by Frances Tornese on November 22, 2010 at 8:50pm: Oh I have good news. I walked today! It's been a long time, but I walked and very well too, according to the physical therapist. I can store the wheelchair now. Still can't do stairs, but I hope that won't take too long.

Comment by Susan the Blue Lake Knitter on November 22, 2010 at 7:45pm: Thanks for this timely information. Such a wonderful organization and cause.

Comment by Frances Tornese on November 22, 2010 at 6:53pm: Thanks. If even one person decides to donate it will be a great thing.

Comment by cherylbwaters on November 22, 2010 at 6:00pm: I'm so glad you blogged about this. I've always thought Heifer is a great organization. Now we can give to something even closer to our hearts.

Comment by Peggy Stuart on November 22, 2010 at 5:36pm: Wonderful reminder of this great organization, so fitting for this time of year! If anyone is wondering, as I did, how a single alpaca living with just a llama for company would do, I understand they build up a herd by providing a number of these baskets. I know a couple of recipients for a share in the Knitter's Gift Basket donated in their names this year! (Love the photo of the lady spinning!!! And her fuzzy friends, too!)