In the Community

From farms in Canada to Farms in Mozambique

Gray Simms is like a lot of kids growing up on farms across Canada. He and his mom, Lorie, live on a farm near Salmon Arm, BC where they farm a few animals, including goats.

Gray and Lorie were talking about what life was like for people in poorer countries around the world, and they decided that they wanted to help. They heard that organizations like CHF support farming families living in poverty with animals or seeds and went to GiftsThatMatter.ca to learn more.

"We thought that the gifts we saw were really great because for a small sum, people could donate a plant or animal that the recipients could care for and could raise some of their own food on a continuing basis," said Lorie.

They chose to donate goats, because having raised them themselves, they knew they were very useful animals that didn't need a lot of upkeep (…though chicks, they say, are a lot of fun too!) Grey and his mom donated a goat each through GiftsThatMatter.ca to support poor farming families living in Mozambique.

A matching program through the Government of Canada means their donation will have a ripple effect—and provide eight families with goats, training on how to raise them, and the opportunity to build a better life for themselves.

"We feel very fortunate to have our farm, to be able to enjoy our animals and garden, and to be able to produce so much of our own food," adds Lorie. "We felt that this was a wonderful way to share some of what we are so grateful for."