Published: November 14, 2007 11:49 am      

Cows give milk, chickens lay eggs, families survive

CUMBERLAND - A Frostburg-based group was able to reach out and help 75,000 people last year, its fifth year in operation.

Tony Crosby sees no reason why that won't happen again.

Crosby brought the story of Heifer International, a nonprofit organization that envisions the world's communities living in peace and sharing the Earth's resources, to the Rotary Club of Cumberland on Tuesday. The humanitarian organization also is dedicated to ending poverty.

The Western Maryland Heifer Task Force had its beginnings in the United Campus Ministry at Frostburg State University, which took on the Heifer project five years ago. In that year, the effort raised $800. Last year, after expanding into Garrett and Washington counties as well as a church in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., a little more than $15,000 was sent to Heifer In-ternational.

That mo-ney bought nearly 75 animals, which helped 75,000 individuals, he said.

"Some of you probably think that's a miracle and it probably was, but we're aiming in that direction," Crosby, an adjunct professor at FSU, said of this year's goal.

A cow, which can be purchased with a $500 donation, will provide a family four gallons of milk a day - enough to share with neighbors and to sell. A flock of chickens is $20, and each chicken is capable of laying 200 eggs a year. A $120 goat will produce one ton of milk a year.

Crosby said the animals are purchased near the recipient's home and Heifer trains the people to care for the animals. The most important aspect of the program is that the recipients pass on the animal's offspring to other families.

Shirley McIntosh, a Rotarian, asked how much of every $1 goes toward helping families versus administrative costs.

Crosby said a little more than 80 cents goes to the families. Heifer also does not accept any money from the government and rarely accepts large contributions from corporations.

Locally, one of the most productive fundraisers has been the upscale yard sale, which will be held Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Frostburg United Methodist Church on Main Street. Crosby said items that aren't used and still are in their boxes are welcome.

Dan West, who supplied milk to people during the Spanish Civil War, created Heifer International in 1944 after running out of milk one day. His idea was to not "just give a cup, but give a cow."

His vision of ending hunger and poverty around the world now reaches 125 countries, including the United States, and has helped some 8.5 million people.

With a spiritual base, the program encourages others to help those in need.

Crosby said the organization is not a charity, which gives handouts, or a program of justice, which is run by the government and can be slow. Instead, it falls in between and is considered sustainable development and helps people improve their lives.

Rotarian Paul Aber asked about urban areas that don't have places for animals to graze.

Crosby said the organization has programs where grazing pens are made for the animals and food is brought in for them.

For more information, visit www.heifer.org.

Contact Maria Smith at msmith@times-news.com.