Kimberley’s All Saints Anglican Church is involved in a program that promotes alternate gift giving — providing gifts that truly help someone in need rather than giving in to the consumerism that can overwhelm Christmas.
Throughout November All Saints parishioners and parish friends have been raising funds for ‘Buy the Farm’.
This project partners with the program, “All Mothers and Children Count” in Mozambique, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania. The goal was to raise $470.00 to ‘buy the farm’: 1 cow, 1 goat, 2 pigs, 5 sheep, 40 chickens, 20 guinea fowl, a 20 kg bag of seeds and farming tools.
Rev. Dr. Katherine Hough of All Saints reports that one farm has already been purchased and a second is in sight, and she is confident the goal will be reached by the deadline of December 16.
The livestock / farm project helps provide a regular source of protein through milk, eggs and meat. Any surplus will allow a family to earn a living from surplus food to pay for things such as mandatory school uniforms and tuition. A surplus can be re-invested into more animals or other income possibilities. Women also have the chance to take part in workshops related to the farming. There is a social bonus of improved gender equality in the home.
At All Saints Kimberley a mock up farm sits at the front and parish children add farm animals and implements as donations come in.
This project is funded through the Primate’s World Relief Development Fund (PWRDF) which is the Anglican Church of Canada’s agency for both relief.as well as sustainable development and has been operating for over 60 years.
PWRDF also works with the support of Anglican parishes across Canada to help those at home. This year, PWRDF donated $5000 to help rebuilding in Telegraph Creek, a remote town in northwest B.C. which lost 27 buildings in a wildfire this past year.
carolyn.grant@kimberleybulletin.com
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