The Cathedral of the Incarnation has once again decided to participate in the Heifer International Project. A bake sale will be held on Sunday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m. in the undercroft of the Cathedral to raise money for this worthwhile cause. Heifer International is a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end world hunger and poverty through self-reliance & sustainability. It is dedicated to providing permanent freedom from hunger by giving families livestock and training so that they can be spared the indignity of depending on others to feed their children. The basic philosophy of Heifers International is based on the proverb, "Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; you have fed him for a lifetime." Heifer International gives gifts of cattle, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, honeybees, pigs, llamas, water buffalo, camels, alpacas, yaks, horses, chicks, ducks, goats, geese, fish, and other regionally appropriate livestock, as well as tree seedlings. These animals and plants have been distributed in more than 125 countries around the globe.

Heifer International works to ensure that the gift of each animal will eventually help an entire community to become self-sustaining. Animals such as goats, water buffalo and camels are "seven M" animals: they provide meat, milk, muscle, manure, money, materials and motivation. Once its immediate needs have been met, a family is free to sell any excess at market. Heifer International provides a breeding animal along with the gift animal so that it can produce offspring. Participating families are required to "pass on the gift", that is: they must give at least one of the female offspring to a neighbor who has undergone Heifer's training. In time, that neighbor will pass along one of the offspring of its animal, and so on. Currently, Heifer International is embarking on a campaign called Hope for the Future, which is dedicated to raising $800 million by 2010 to lift five million families worldwide to self-reliance.

Last year's fund raiser for Heifer International was a great success. Please come and support the bake sale or you can send a donation to Heifer International through the Cathedral office at 50 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City. Make your check out to Heifer International. If you would like further information about this project, contact Deacon Connie Lorenz at 746-2955. Hopefully with the money raised we can buy a sheep or two or maybe even a whole flock!