Heifer International

"Give a man a fish, he can eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he can eat for a lifetime."

The organization now known as Heifer International, was founded by Dan West, a lifelong member of the Church of the Brethren. West founded Heifer Project in 1944 to alleviate hunger and poverty in the wake of the Spanish civil war.

West spent time in Spain to assist with a relief program aiding both sides of the war. He noted that while giving hungry children milk, it wasn't enough. They would be hungry again tomorrow. However, if the children's family had a milk cow, a steady supply of milk would be accessible.

West appealed to his church family for help. Three Guernsey cows, aptly named Faith, Hope, and Charity, were the first heifers to be donated. In order to "pass on the gift," recipients of the gift animals agree to give the animal's offspring to another family in need, thus multiplying the gift.

Buy the book Faith the Cow from Brethren Press

Go to the Heifer International website.

Watch a public service announcement video from Heifer International.