Hiefer Living Gift Market a huge success

Last year the Village Heifer Club's Living Gift Market made a phenomenal $50,000. The funds were all given to Heifer Project International to buy pregnant animals to give to needy families around the globe. Last year there were three very big gifts, one for $10,000 and two for $5,000. This year there was only one big gift for $5,000.
This year the Living Gift Market has collected over $40,000 for Heifer with more gifts in smaller amounts. More Villagers are reaching out to help in any way they can.
According to the Living Gift Market chairman Dave Nottrott, "this was the smoothest LGM I have ever been involved in. The individual project chairmen took care of their responsibilities and I didn't have to worry about anything. They came to me with big questions and that was it."
Long time Heifer Club member Merrill Clark attributed the success of this year's market to the leadership of the club's steering committee. The core group kept the club going this year with less frequent general meetings. A lot of the membership is only interested in making the LGM a success but aren't interested in attending meetings. This year there were fewer meetings but they always had a good speaker scheduled guaranteeing good attendance.
The club has evolved into a leaner, sleeker organization. Education is still the main goal and the LGM is its number one educational event. This year more Heifer educational materials were given out than ever before. Each animal table was hosted by knowledgeable club members able to answer all questions patrons had about Heifer, the animals and the recipients of Heifer gifts.
The food as always was delicious. The 25 member food committee solicited donations from the following businesses to defray all costs of food preparation. Subway, Mountain Valley Water, WalMart, Walgreens, Cranfords at the east and west gates, Health Mart, Coke, Dr. Pepper and Sprite.
Next year the food committee will endeavor to offer vegetarian selections as well. The food concessions at the LGM sold $702.
Ruth Lauther chaired the wooden ornaments table. She said the table sold $252 worth of ornaments. Club member Duane Miller is responsible for woodworking the cow heads seen around the Village and the wooden ornaments sold at the market. Miller managed to get all the woodwork done before it was discovered he had a brain tumor earlier this fall. Miller underwent surgery and is recovering from his illness. He has not been far from Heifer member's thoughts and prayers. Miller was one of the steering committee members that kept the club going.
The gift tables sold Heifer products and the Village club received 20-percent of the profits, a whopping $449.64. The gift tables were a big success.
The Arkansas Soap Company was one of the few vendors allowed to sell non-Heifer products at the LGM. The goat's milk soap is a product in sync with Heifer's goals. The company owners plow their profits right back into the LGM. They bought a Heifer goat with their proceeds.
There was a silent auction for a Indian wall hanging which brought in $110.
At the wrap up meeting yesterday there will still checks coming in to add to the overall total of the gift the Village club will pass on to Heifer Project International. There was over $40,000 collected with more still coming in. Order forms with the code LGM7190900 will be credited to the Village Heifer Club at Heifer headquarters. The true total of the Village's giving will probably not be known until after the first of next year.
The next Heifer meeting will be in April, the topic will be passing on the gift. Each pregnant animal Heifer gives to a needy family is given with the promise that the offspring be given to another needy family the following April. A Heifer gift is the gift that keeps giving.
Cub members are already starting to plan next year's Living Gift Market, November 11 at the Coronado Center. Veterans Day and Heifer Living Gift Market all in one day.