Do You Have Information on How to Donate a Chicken to a Family at Christmas Time?
Christmas is a great time to donate a chicken or a small flock of chickens to a needy family. Across Africa and Asia, backyard poultry serves as a key path out of poverty. Throughout Africa and Asia, a few chickens can make a huge difference in the life of a family. At GFA World, we will directly use your donation and provide a life-changing gift to a family in need.
Our pastors and missionaries live in the communities in which they serve. This allows them to see needs firsthand and see how to help most for each family. Research from the Food and Agriculture Organization confirms that farmers who raise small animals like chickens earn much more income. They make roughly 50% more compared to those who depend solely on crop production.
For rural households living on less than two dollars per day, even a small flock creates real economic gains.
“There is no one to take care of me at this old age. I am worried, thinking, ‘What will happen if I die and no one will even know about it?’ Today, I saw your care, and I am happy for the chicken you gave me.” —Prim, a 65-year-old widow[1]
How Chickens Transform Lives
Eggs Provide Nutrition and Income
Did you know, a hen can lay up to 250 to 300 eggs yearly?[2] And when a pair has chicks, a flock develops, providing nourishment and income for years. Studies tracking livestock gift programs found that families in the program earned an average of $80 more each year than control groups. Returns ranged from 133% to 433% depending on the region.
The eggs offer protein-rich nutrition for their owners, and they can also sell them at the market. Chickens are happy roaming the yard and require little food or maintenance. Village chickens convert household refuse and scavenged feed into valuable protein. They perform what researchers call a “social hygiene function” while generating extra cash for urgent family needs.
Small Flocks Grow Into Lasting Assets
Small animals like chickens reproduce quickly and can be sold so the family can steadily grow their farm. A pair of chickens usually has at least two chicks each year, letting the flock grow on its own. A truly simple gift like a chicken can make a quick impact for someone living in poverty. Beyond quick nutrition, poultry ownership creates a lasting way for families to buy more assets like goats or cattle over time.
Empowering Women and Communities
In many rural areas, chickens do more than feed families. Village chickens help meet food needs and give women more money control, as they often manage these small flocks. Women and children are the primary managers of backyard poultry in most rural communities. Research shows these flocks pay for daily needs while helping those with less.
“If you had the opportunity to visit the mission field,” shares K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan), founder of GFA, “there would be thousands of people you could meet whose lives have been touched by gifts such as chickens, goats and rickshaws. These unlikely gifts brought them a means of income they most likely never could have gained otherwise. Recipients of these gifts are finding hope, both in this world and in the love of Christ.”[3]
An Agriculture journal study shows village chicken raising helps those who need support most. It creates chances to turn small backyard flocks into steady income sources.
How to Give the Gift of Chickens
The process of gifting chickens is very easy and quick. Visit our Christmas Gift Catalog and select the chicken item in the gift options list.
A GFA pastor or missionary will purchase the chicken for you and then gift it to a family living in extreme poverty. When families receive these gifts through GFA World, a 501(c)(3) organization, your contribution is tax deductible according to IRS guidelines.
It’s a simple but profound gift and a proven way to break the cycle of poverty that has been plaguing many communities for generations. Will you join us in this unique mission?
Learn more about how to sponsor a family for Christmas!
[1] “Gifts from the Stable.” GFA World. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.gfa.org/donation/browse/items/from-the-stable.
[2] “The Best Egg Laying Chickens: A Guide to Egg Production.” IFA’s Blog. Accessed September 19, 2023. https://grow.ifa.coop/chickens/best-egg-laying-chickens.
[3] “Water Buffalo Provides Security for Family.” GFA World. 2018. https://www.gfa.org/gift/stories/kailea.