Parents and children are busy helping the buyers select their baked goodies. At the start of the new millennium, leaders from 191 nations, including the United States agreed on a plan to cut extreme global poverty in half by 2015. Together they created the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Development is about freedom from misery and suffering, hunger, illiteracy, disease, poor housing and insecurity.

And so, the children of the Church School of The Cathedral of the Incarnation, having learned about the Millennium Development Goals, decided to pray, act and give through Heifer International.

Heifer International works with communities around the world to end hunger and poverty and to care for the earth. Since 1944, Heifer has helped 9.2 million families in 125 countries move toward greater self-reliance through livestock, training and "passing on the gift." By providing animals and training, Heifer enables families to overcome poverty and make lasting improvements in their quality of life. It brings to life the old adage, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Sheep are one kind of animal that Heifer International likes to provide to the needy. Entire communities depend on wool and meat from sheep. Struggling families use sheep's wool to make clothes, or sell it for extra income. Sheep often give birth to twins or triplets and can graze even the hilliest, rockiest pastures unsuitable for other livestock. Families can collect manure for fertilizer which improves soil. All over the world, Heifer partners are raising sheep to advance the cause against hunger and poverty.

The church school children of The Cathedral of the Incarnation had a bake sale on Sunday, June 8 between Masses. They raised enough money to buy 3 sheep at $120 a sheep, 1 flock of ducks at $20 and 1 Gift of Hope basket which contains chickens and rabbits at $50 a basket. In addition, The Cathedral Choir Development Fund donated $120 to Heifer Organization for the gift of an additional sheep. The church school children learned a valuable lesson that they have the power to help their brothers and sister around the world. All they had to do was learn, pray, act and give.

If you would be willing to help these young people as they reach out to help those in need, please send your check made out to the Heifer Organization and send it to The Cathedral of the Incarnation, 50 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530 and address it to the attention of Deacon Connie Lorenz.

To learn more about the Cathedral of the Incarnation and the programs it offers for youth and adults please contact Deacon Connie Lorenz at 746-2955 or visit the website at www.incarnationgc.org.