Shepherd’s Spring holds grand opening for Heifer Global Village.

The public is invited to the grand opening celebration of a new Heifer Global Village at Shepherd’s Spring in Sharpsburg, Md. The celebration takes place May 9 from 2-4 p.m. Admission is free.

Shepherd’s Spring is an outdoor ministry center of the Church of the Brethren’s Mid-Atlantic District, providing summer camp programs and retreat and conference facilities. The district has worked closely with Heifer International,--a nonprofit organization originally begun by the Church of the Brethren dedicated to ending world hunger and poverty--to bring the Heifer Global Village experience to Shepherd’s Spring.

Through programs designed by Heifer International, the Heifer Global Village raises awareness of hunger and poverty by giving participants a first-hand experience of the daily struggles that people in poverty face every day to simply feed their family a meager meal. By living the lessons of poverty first-hand, participants come to understand the complications surrounding hunger and poverty and see their connection in creating change that brings possibility and hope to millions around the world.

During the grand opening celebration, visitors will take a guided tour of the Heifer Global Village featuring homes representing Kenya, Guatemala, Mozambique, and the Appalachian region of the US. Volunteers will offer guests food samples, such as tortillas eaten in Guatemala, and cashews from Mozambique. Attendees will learn about the Global Village programs and about Heifer International’s work as they meet several of the animals that Heifer provides to struggling families around the world including goats, pigs, and other traditional farm animals.

Education has long been an important part of Heifer’s mission. Heifer lives its mission by sharing the knowledge that it has gained in 60 years of fighting global hunger and poverty. Since 1944, when it began as the Church of the Brethren program Heifer Project, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income.

Every gift of an animal provides benefits such as milk, eggs, wool, and fertilizer, increasing family incomes for better housing, nutrition, health care, and school fees for children. Recipients then "pass on the gift" of offspring of their cows, goats and other livestock to others.

For more information about the celebration visit www.Shepherdssspring.org or contact shepherds.spring@juno.com or 301-223-8193. For more information about Heifer International visit www.heifer.org or call 800-696-1918.

-- Ann Cornell serves as administrator for Shepherd’s Spring.

Source: 5/07/2009 Newsline Extra