Percentage of December sales to be donated to Heifer

It's the holiday season, and the season of giving. But this means much more than just giving gifts to each other - it also reminds us that we need to give to others who have more needs than we do.
Birdsong will donate at least 10% of profits this month to Heifer International. What I like about Heifer is that it helps families become self-sufficient. It gives families an animal, like a heifer, goat or chicken, that can create food for the family (milk, eggs). According to their website, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training since 1944 to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in 50 countries, including the U.S., to help families and communities become more self-reliant. This keeps families together rather than causing one parent to leave their village for work in a far-flung location. And one of the other important benefits is that children - especially girls who are usually forced out of school - are more likely to receive an education once their family participates in the program.
And this means Heifer International helps empower women.


My maternal grandma, above, had to support herself and her three children with her earnings as a hairdresser - in a shop in her home. In fact, at 84, she still has customers! My paternal grandma, who passed away several years ago, raised her two boys and went into the workforce later, earning a pension and retiring in Florida. My dad worked very hard and had a well-paying, stable job that allowed my mom to stay home with my brother and me. And while having one parent stay home is ideal (whether it be mom or dad), the truth is that the middle class has changed, and usually both parents have to work outside of the home.
But, since I'm on a computer and you're on a computer, probably from the comfort of your home or office, we obviously have it much better than those who receive aid from Heifer. I can't change policies here in the U.S. to provide paid maternity leave to mothers and fathers, and I can't force businesses to grant sick pay/comp time to people so they can care for ill loved ones. I can't provide a stay-at-home mom or dad with a decent pension. But through Heifer, I can help one family change their life for the better. And maybe, one day, a girl can have the life that right now she can only dream about.