Christ Church Spotsylvania recently conducted its summer Vacation Bible School and used the theme of an Avalanche Ranch to hold a penny drive to collect money for the Heifer Project (www.heifer.org), an international aid organization that provides livestock animals for needy families in developing countries. The children raised over $200 and chose to buy a sheep, chickens, rabbits and bees. The children's enthusiasm for the project and money raising abilities far exceeded expectations and they took great pleasure in working out what animals they could afford. Church Parishioners then donated additional funds to raise the total to over $3350 and heifers, water buffalo, llamas, goats, pigs, ducks and geese were added to fill out the ark.

The idea was brought forth by the Outreach Commission at the behest of the Church Rector, Father Jeff Packard, as a means to support the Episcopal Church Millennium Development Goals, of which one is to 'Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger'. Vacation Bible School was a means to get the children involved and show that there are others in our world with needs greater than our own. By donating animals this project provides ongoing self sustaining food and income production to families allowing them to build their lives. Giving in this way has been a great blessing to members of the Christ Church family. Further fund raisers will be conducted in the coming months.

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