(NewsUSA) – When Helen and Ron Russell's daughter Tara was
born, they were filled with the hope that she would one day make a difference in the world.
When the Russells' daughter announced her engagement to Dale Ethridge, the young couple was
living and teaching in China; the Russells were retired in the Southwest; and the wedding was to be
near Seattle. The task of planning for their only daughter's wedding suddenly seemed like a hike up
Mount Everest.
How would months of planning, showers and registering for fine china ever
happen?
But the young couple had made a fast and clear decision: This wedding was not going to
be a day for collecting "stuff." It was to be a day of celebrating their love for one another with
family and close friends.
They decided that gifts in honor of their special day would instead be donations to Heifer
International, a nonprofit organization that gives farm animals to struggling families, who in turn
pass on the gift of the animals' offspring to other families.
Suddenly, planning for the wedding from distant corners of the Earth became very simple.
Along with their wedding invitation, they included their wishes regarding gifts and gave out
Heifer's "Passing on the Gift" DVD to guests at the reception. Guests were able to make donations
of cows, goats, chicks, sheep and llamas on Heifer International's online giving
registry.
People can set up a registry through Heifer International's Web site for milestones
such as weddings and anniversaries, and for just about any reason that they would like to ask
someone to join them in supporting the organization's work.
Heifer's registry functions like popular retail gift registries, but instead of china
and kitchen appliances, the selections include chickens, cows water buffaloes and other farm
animals.
The symbolic gifts, while honoring registrants, go to support Heifer's efforts in the U.S.
and around the world to help struggling families become self-reliant.
The Heifer Giving Registry lets you customize your own gift page, select honor
cards and track donations. Visit www.heifer.org to learn
more.
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