Every year I write a very
detailed Christmas list. It’s listed in
order of importance, and color-coded, and broken down by price and
availability. And every year my list is
studiously ignored. My mom is notorious
for her (well-intentioned I’m sure) odd and off-base gifts. Over the years I’ve received: paperweights,
napkin rings, a flannel nightgown, figurines of bears, and miniature tea
sets.
And all I want is shoes,
ya’ll. Horribly impractical shoes.
So this year I’ve devised a
full-proof plan. To do good for others
and boost my karma for the rest of the year.
I’m just asking for donations for my favorite charity: Heifer International.
Not only does it have the
best name ever, it’s a really great cause. You can buy a heifer (or water buffalo, sheep, pig, flock of
geese, camel, etc.) for a family in a developing country. Heifer International’s approach is “giving
families a hand-up, not just a hand-out,” by helping them “improve their
nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways.”
It’s an innovative and great
idea, and you can read more about their work here.
Speaking
of cow-themed gifts, maybe you should add 14 Cows for America to your
Christmas list. After witnessing the
9/11 attacks, a Maasai tribesman returns to Kenya and tells his people the
story of the tragedy. As an act of
solidarity and sympathy, the tribe donates 14 cows to the people of
America. Visit the book website to
learn more about Wilson
Kimeli Naiyomah and his gift.
