How does one give the gift of a chicken? Do you sneak it inside when no one’s watching? Do you keep it in the backyard shed? Is it the wake-up call on Christmas morning? While I love chickens, I wouldn’t suggest giving one as a gift without some serious conversation with the person who will be housing and caring for it.
No, I’m not talking about gifting an actual chicken. Instead, I’m referring to a charitable donation made in someone’s honor — a chicken gifted to those in need.
Back in the 90s, when I was attending a church in Bethesda, MD, I was introduced to the concept of the Alternative Gift Market. I’d never seen anything like it before. The church hall, where people gathered after service for coffee and conversation, was transformed into a holiday market offering gifts that could be purchased in honor of a friend or loved one. The gifts included items like blankets, mosquito nets, milking cows, medical care, Bibles — and my favorite, chickens.
You would purchase the gift and receive a card explaining what it was and where it was going. There was even a space for the name of the gift recipient. Back then, everything was done with paper and pen — checks and mail service. Today, the process has been streamlined, and you can make these purchases online.
I love this type of gift because it’s the gift that keeps on giving. The chickens are provided to people in areas of great need. They aren’t raised for their meat, but for the eggs they produce, which provide a valuable source of protein and nutrition.
This gift benefits not only the recipients but also the person the gift is in honor of. Many of us are fortunate to have food on our tables and roofs over our heads — yet we often take these blessings for granted. This is a beautiful reminder of that. And, better yet, we can make a difference in someone’s life, no matter how small our contribution may seem.
How to Donate Chickens for Charity
There are many faith-based and charitable organizations offering these kinds of gifts, some even with catalogs. Before donating, I always check Charity Navigator, which evaluates and rates the most well-known and well-established charities based on various giving criteria.
As of this post, World Vision has a solid 93% rating, my go-to organization for these types of gifts. They offer a variety of gift options, but who can resist the charm of a chicken? (You can check out their chicken donation page here: WorldVision’s Chickens) — the gift that keeps on multiplying!
Presenting the Gift
The gift itself might come in the form of a simple card from the charity explaining the donation. Or, you could have a bit more fun with the presentation, turning it into an actual gift to be unwrapped on Christmas Day — a physical representation of the donation. This could be straightforward, funny, heartfelt, practical, beautiful, or even educational for kids, teaching them about giving.
Please note: I earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, for any items that follow. I do not receive any commissions for the organizations that I promoted above.
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