I just got a Christmas card with a little slip of paper in it saying:

"As a gift to you this year, a share of sheep has been purchased in your honor."
(It is through Heifer International.)

I know it's a "gift" to me, but I find it a little weird. I've received such gifts in the past and have not acknowledged them. This gift is from an old college room mate. We keep in touch (usually just at Christmas time with cards).

What to do, what to do??

I would send a thank you after all it's a gift. I know it's not to you and I have often wondered about this type of gift. The other day on the radio they were saying a gift is a luxury item that a person doesn't give themselves and giving a charity donation in that person's name allows them to do a good deed they might not have been able to afford or maybe had not thought of.
Anytime anyone does anything nice for you it's gracious to acknowledge.

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What is a "share of sheep" ? I won't type the visions going through my mind.....

I am, admittedly clueless. Please enlighten me.

dl

Heifer International: Share of a sheep - La Canada Presbyterian Church Christmas Market

A share of a sheep (from this link) is $10.... an entire sheep is $120. Wonder what happens if no one buys the rest of the sheep?

I guess OP could send a thank-you card. I sure wouldn't know where to begin in how to word it!!

I could be wrong but I think this gift is mean't to give back to a poverty stricken community who depends on what they can get from the sheep to help feed their families and also to be used in the process of removing the wool and processing the wool to make clothing. I honestly do not know how much this kind of gift would cost but because me personally feel you should send a thank you because it was a gift. You could just send a small note , it is hard sometimes when you receive a gift that you honestly cannot use . This type of gift it more personal to me and more as a charitable cause. Freer do you believe this friend would send this gift and think you would appreciate it??? either it is a friend and it a gift so I believe a small thank you note would be fine. Peace. Catherine

Thank you so much for your thoughtful gift! I appreciate being able to do something to enhance people's lives. I never would have thought of this. Once again thank you so much!

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Thanks everyone. That's a great way to put it annadrose

I think that is correct, Catherine, and I think it's a great thing to give relatives who insist they have everything already, and couldn't possibly need anything else.

One really cool thing about Heifer International is that they require their recipients to 'give back'. In other words, you make some money by selling that goat's milk, you help someone else to buy a goat. It works!

Another great place to give a Christmas gift is Compassion international. You can do a onetime gift or sponsor a child for a monthly commitment.

I would just send them a Christmas card and write something in there thanking them for their "gift". ~Lisa

My rule of thumb is when in doubt send the Thank you. No matter what, it is always nice to know that someone acknowledges what you have done and appreciates it.

Funny thing --- this morning on the morning show on Fox News, they had a representative with Heifer International on there talking about their program. They were outside and had actually brought a cow with them.

Heifer International is one of the charities I gladly support.

I really like the way they have recipients "pay it forward" once they start to benefit from the help they receive. It's amazing how much good a flock of chickens or a couple of sheep/goats can do for an empoverished family in a poor country.

I'd just put a line of thanks in the card you send them.

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