December 4th, 2009

By Harriet Blake
Green Right Now

Unlike other retail gift suitors seeking your holiday dollars, Heifer International is on a mission.

It wants to “pass on the gift” of a donation to a family in need in the developing world, giving them not short-term relief but a way to help themselves — a source of food, animals to raise, a hold on a small business.

Started in 1944 by Midwestern farmer Dan West, Heifer’s unique concept literally began with a heifer, a young female cow. Not only does the cow provide milk for one family, its offspring can then be given to other families to do the same. In this way, Heifer International has assisted 8.5 million people in more than 125 countries since its inception.

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May 12th, 2009

By Laura Elizabeth May
Green Right Now

Count the city of Houston among the growing number of municipalities and groups gathering up old stuff — to keep it out of the landfill and recycle it for new uses.

In this case, Houston is now accepting donations of construction and home materials, which will be made available to any nonprofit organization at no charge.

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