The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Today we continue our Holiday Season Extravaganza. Between now and December 25, we will share what it means to celebrate the holidays — Life in Pencil style.
Posted by Elizabeth
“I think I’d like to give a goat,” said my friend and hairstylist, Sarah.
“Me, too,” I chimed in, stabbing a pillow of French toast.
“But a goat. I don’t know how people would feel about a goat.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Not everyone could appreciate a goat. And how do you determine if someone is a ‘goat person’ or not?”
We were discussing holiday gifts over brunch, and other than a few carefully chosen gifts for a few select people, I’m not a huge gift giver. Because I give so few gifts, each selection takes on unexpected weight and meaning. As an adult, what do most of us need or want that we can’t buy ourselves? But when a catalog arrived from Heifer International, emblazoned with a close-up shot of a ridiculously cute lamb, an animal for which I have a soft spot, I was intrigued. An increasingly popular idea, Heifer International is one of many humanitarian organizations that make it possible for people like me in the first world to give farm animals as gifts to people in the developing world, animals which provide food, byproducts, and a source of income. The thought is, rather than buying a foot massager that Aunt Mildred neither needs nor wants, why not use that money towards gifting a Trio of Rabbits ($60) on her behalf to a family in Peru?
Two by two
After reading the catalog, I carefully studied the order form. A goat would run me $120, but I could buy a share of a goat for only $10. The Tree Seedlings ($60), the Honeybees ($30), and the Flock of Chickens ($20) were more at my price point. But while desperately needed, I found my ego getting in the way: they lacked the cache of the goat. At $5,000 there is “The Gift Ark.” Just like Noah’s ark, a pair of animals, ranging from water buffalo to geese, are given to a family, with the understanding that they will pass on one or more of the animals’ offspring to another family. Genius! But the granddaddy of all gifts is “Hope of the Future.” For $25,000, Heifer International will offer extensive training to families in sustainable farming, microenterprise, and community development. It’s the ultimate expression of “if you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” And the order form allows you to denote quantity – you know, in case you want to order two or three.
The idea of gifting essentials first struck me as an excellent idea when I was traveling around the world last year. The majority of our time was spent in the developing world, and the need – for just about everything – was evident. We know this. And we know we have so much to give. But I can’t help but wonder what Aunt Mildred would really think if I gave her a Trio of Rabbits. As much as I’d rather receive something useful and even vital, I’m not sure everyone on my gift list feels the same way. Would people be disappointed to receive a gift that’s not for them? And perhaps more to the point, I wonder if I am feeding my own ego in some way; if I am giving something that I think people should want and have and value? Am I being a self-righteous gift giver, even if someone halfway around the world benefits? Is my gift altruistic, or an advertisement for how socially conscious I am? In my muddled attempt to read the minds of the people on my short gift list, I’ve become mired in all sorts of internal philosophical debates. And in the course of this mental Olympics, I began to wonder when gift giving became such a complicated affair?
When I was about three, my mother took me to the drugstore to choose a Christmas gift for my dad. There wasn’t a lot of money to go around that year, so it was a token more than a full-fledged gift, but nevertheless I was excited to choose something on my own. I selected a fantastically unique gift, something I had never seen the likes of, and was excited about giving my dad something I knew he would love. When he arrived home from work that evening, I jumped excitedly at his feet, gleefully shouting,
“Dad, I got you the best Christmas gift today, and you’re never going to guess what it is!”
“Why don’t you give me a clue,” my dad asked.
“Okay,” I said, thinking hard of a hint that wouldn’t give the gift away. “Soap on a –“
“—rope!” my dad blurted without thinking.
My face crumpled, and I began sobbing. How could he have known?
“Well, I don’t know what kind of soap on a rope it is,” he offered, hopefully, to which I immediately began to dry my tears.
And come Christmas morning, my dad did an excellent job of feigning surprise when he discovered that it was Old Spice soap on a rope, which was completely different and far superior to the other soap on a ropes that he’d been acquainted with in his 33 years on this earth. This, to me, captures the spirit in which we should approach this season of giving, focusing on the intention in which gifts are given. Sometimes the simplest gifts are the best gifts, and when they’re given in the spirit of love with thought and care, they are always the best gifts. So if you receive a goat, of a flock of chickens, or a stand of saplings from me this Christmas, know that I don’t hate you. Rather, I think enough of you to give the gift of love – it just happens to be to a stranger halfway around the globe.
Be honest: how would you feel about receiving a goat for Christmas? What’s your biggest gift-giving (or receving) disaster? Does anyone know of other organizations, besides Heifer International, who are offering similar programs this holiday season?
December 8th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Well, I confess. These days, I’d be fine receiving a trio of rabbits…I very much believe in Heifer’s cause. But the only time I ever received a goat was one Christmas–from my Mom–when I was about 17 years old. And let me tell you…the beauty of that gift was TOTALLY lost on me. I wanted clothes. Jewelry. Golf balls. Anything but a goat. It embarasses me to think of my reaction now, but I was a teenage girl…what can I say?
Also, in a nod to my husband, I just have to point out (for you Seinfeld fans out there) that George Costanza was handing out gifts on behalf of “The Human Fund” a LONG time ago. Of course, he made up “The Human Fund”, but he put a lot of thought into it.
December 8th, 2009 at 7:33 am
When I was in my 20′s and living in an amazing loft in Old City Philadelphia, my little brother once gave me a cheese dome that he bought at the hardware store in Columbia MO. Clearly, he was desperate and this fit his budget, and he figured we must eat cheese, right? We still laugh about the Dome Thing. I think giving goats and penicillin shots and other humanitarian aid is all very well and good as long as the organizations are above board. I’m very cynical about charities in general, and the fate of largesse in the undeveloped world in particular. Sorry to say.
December 8th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I would love a goat or a trio of rabbits or trees, or any other gift like the ones you describe, Elizabeth. I’ve been working with my family and my partner’s family to STOP giving gifts to one another for the holidays, and only buy gifts for the kids in the family. After all, none of us NEED anything and many of us are tight in the money department these days. After many years, my side of the family has agreed to this shift, but my partner’s…not so much. They are VERY attached to buying one another gifts and it is hard for me to totally understand. Aren’t there other ways to show our love for one another? Can’t we agree to buy gifts that would ACTUALLY help others in developing countries? UGH–this makes me feel some of what Anne’s post discussed yesterday–I’m trying to have myself a merry little Christmas! Anyway, yes, buy a goat! xo
December 8th, 2009 at 8:23 am
So funny that you wrote about this! This is the first year I am actually ordering from this catalog. It has always lurked there like the good angel on one shoulder, nudged out by the Archie McPhee catalog and the coupons from Amazon. But this year! This year I am getting honey bees and chickens!
December 8th, 2009 at 8:51 am
This year my husband requested a charitable donation on his behalf, in lieu of a gift. Heifer International has crossed my mind, as well as The Girl Effect and UNICEF. It feels both good and strange to be going this route. I want him to have something to open on Christmas morning, but it also feels good to do something for someone who really needs it.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Dear Anne and Elizabeth:
Thank you for including the work of Heifer International in “Life in Pencil,” and thank you for making it so interesting and entertaining. By “writing it into your life,” you captured experiences and emotions we hope occur every day. Thank you, too, for helping remind people that there is nothing so wonderful as sharing—with friends, with family and with families far away who daily battle hunger and poverty, issues we read about in headlines but seldom experience. Gifts such as yours—powerful words of purpose—help Heifer’s work as much as any donation or gift. Thank you again for thinking of Heifer and of the families we strive to help. Best wishes for a happy, hopeful and safe holiday season.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I received this catalogue, too, and was interested until I started flipping through and seeing that most of the gifts are animals.
There are better and more humane ways to feed people. Organizations like Ecology Action teach people in over 100 countries how to farm and feed themselves sustainably, including the growing of materials used for making baskets, piping (bamboo), and coppicing for wood fires.
Animals take much more land to feed and maintain, which is especially a problem in third world countries where resources and water supplies are already limited. That is why I love donating to Ecology Action who teaches a skill that can be used to feed indefinitely.
http://www.growbiointensive.org/about_memberships.html
Although my family is not giving gifts this year, last month I told my mom that it didn’t feel like Christmas without giving something to some purpose.
I’ve donated to all kinds of organizations. I especially enjoy volunteering and seeing what is being accomplished for myself. Last year I sponsored a sister in Nigeria with Women to Women International. This year we’re all donating to Vegan Outreach as they have an end-of-the-year matching opportunity going on where they match what you donate dollar-for-dollar and were named one of the best non-profits in America by Independent Charities of America. There pamphlets educate college students about factory farming (which is where 99% of our meat, milk, and eggs come from) and is probably the most successful program in the US for turning young people’s minds to the environmental, health, and humane aspects of diet.
http://www.veganoutreach.org/
December 8th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
We got a cataloge from World Concern as well as Heifer. Animals or farming or both (I was leaning towards the fishing package where they send hooks and line and such)- The best part of this message to me is that there are a lot of needs in the world and we can help, even if we don’t have a lot to give. Someday I dream of helping on a larger scale than just a fishing basket, but for today I’ll be happy I live in a land where I have the means to help at all. Now that’s a real gift.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I believe World Concern is the organization that Derek Sciba works for!
December 8th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Are you and Heidi referring to the Derek Sciba that you both went to high school with in Auburn? It’s hard to keep up with that guy; the last I heard he was a news anchor at a Portland, OR TV station. In any event, his name surely is a prominent one among others at World Concern.
I also heard, though it’s unconfirmed, that the good folks at “Old Spice” are involved with the World Concern program too. If gift providers want to ensure that their goat donations arrive at their destination in pristine condition, for an additional $10 donation, you can purchase the “Soap-on-a-Goat” package which is becoming very popular. Again, this is merely rumored and not confirmed. Here’s a little more:
“For Kids Who Love Kids – Complete Goat Package”
Give a goat, and provide tools to ensure it is well-cared for. The complete goat package includes vaccinations and a pen. Once full-grown, goats can produce up to a gallon of nutritious milk each day. Goat herds grow quickly. The sale of kid goats often allows families to send their children to school.
https://donate.worldconcern.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=721&nccsm=21&__nccscid=18&__nccsct=Goats&__nccspID=929#navigator
December 8th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Yes, the very same Derek. He left broadcasting and is now working in the nonprofit sector. He was an anchor in Albuquerque just before I moved here, you know. In any event, wow, that’s fascinating that you can buy accoutrement for the goat.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:43 am
What would you all think of the LiP readers spocering a Goat? We can all pitch in $10.00 and buy a goat for someone. Of course Its totally up to you, Elizabeth and Anne. (Do you think we get to name it? I like “LiP the goat”, or Lippy, or LiPs.)
December 9th, 2009 at 9:48 am
ABF, I think that’s a FABULOUS idea! I will put out the APB tomorrow morning!
December 11th, 2009 at 11:55 am
I found another organization who does this program, Oxfam. They have non-animal gifts too!
http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com