SHELBURNE FALLS — Just a little over a year after forming, the Youth Group at St. Joseph Parish raised the sum of $5,024.15 for the purchase of a Gift Ark to Heifer International.
This is a tremendous accomplishment, even for larger groups.
Heifer is a charitable organization working to end hunger by gifting animals to need families in 25 to 30 countries. The Gift Ark comprises two of most of the animals Heifer offers, including water buffalo, cows, sheep and goats, along with bees, chicks, rabbits and more. Ms. Debb Makara, the local Heifer representative, explained that the animals can provide entire communities with milk, eggs, honey and wool; provide income by supplying an abundance of goods to sell; sustain farming by providing livestock to work the land, and improve the lives of families for generations. The recipients agree to pass on the donated animals’ first-born female to another needy family.
Rev. Tony Cullen expressed his amazement with the group’s achievement during the Dec. 4 presentation. Both he and Ms. Barbara Yager, the group’s leader, told of how the youth raised the sum through raffles and donations large and small by parishioners and local groups. Vega Johnson-Bouchard presented the check and Krystal Finn accepted the award from Heifer on behalf of the parish.