Description
Owning a cow can have a significant impact on the lives of people who live in poverty, providing several potential benefits that contribute to their livelihoods such as nutrition, income generation, asset accumulation, diversification of livelihoods, fertilizer production, sustainable livestock management.
Recovery from malnutrition
Cow ownership improves the nutritional status of the family. Milk from the cow is a valuable source of high-quality protein, essential vitamins, and minerals (such as calcium) that are crucial for growth and development. This is especially important for children who have suffered undernutrition or malnutrition.
Meeting household needs
Owning a cow can provide a source of income for impoverished families. They can sell surplus milk to local markets or neighbors, generating extra revenue that can be used to meet other household needs, such as food, clothing, education, or health care.
Improving agricultural productivity
Cows also serve as valuable assets for agricultural productivity. Their manure is used as fertilizer for crops, leading to increased yields and improved soil fertility. While this is a gift that funds our Food Assistance program, this donation helps develop our Micro-enterprise program as well.
Related products
Catalog Notice
Gifts to Food For The Poor help advance our mission to alleviate hunger, poverty, and suffering. Donations are understood to be allocated flexibly, allowing us to address the most urgent needs and sustain our operations. This flexibility enables us to respond quickly in times of crisis and maintain long-term support where it’s needed most. We are committed to being responsible stewards of your generosity, ensuring every gift has a meaningful impact on those we serve.
New Mercado Global Summer Collection
A Hand Up
For the Mercado Women
A Mercado Global handbag isn’t just an accessory—it’s a meaningful gift that represents hope and resilience. When you shop on our website you're making the statement that poverty isn't inevitable.
Every purchase helps create a stable economic environment within impoverished communities, which can lead to food security and reduce dependency on aid. It’s an investment in breaking the cycle of poverty through fair trade practices that uplift entire communities.
Each handbag is a unique piece of art, handcrafted by skilled artisans who draw on traditional techniques passed down through generations. This supports cultural preservation while giving artisans a source of pride and financial independence.
Zulma Weekender Candy Stripes
The Zulma Duffle Bag is your ultimate grab-and-go weekender—crafted from 100% handwoven fabric with a bold, striped design and finished with functional, thoughtful details. With a spacious cotton-lined interior, this duffle includes 2 interior slip pockets to keep small essentials organized, plus an exterior zippered pocket for quick access items.
Price: $128
Magali Tote Minty
Swirl
The Magali Tote blends structured elegance with everyday function. Handcrafted from 100% handwoven fabric and fully lined with soft cotton, this tote is designed to move seamlessly from workdays to weekends. Its defining feature—hand-embroidered leather handles—adds artisanal detail and long-wear durability.
Price: $118
Mini Lorena Backpack Minty Swirl
A Mercado Global favorite, the Mini Lorena Backpack combines playful design with everyday functionality. Handcrafted from 100% handwoven fabric and lined in soft cotton, it features adjustable leather shoulder straps for a comfortable fit and a leather zipper pull for added durability.
Price: $108
Handbags are ethically crafted, prioritizing fair labor practices and sustainable production. With each purchase, you’re helping prove that we can tackle poverty through sustainable community development.
Buying a Mercado Global handbag provides sustainable income for artisans in marginalized communities, directly helping them support their families. By working part-time, artisans can make up to $8 a day, which is enough to lift themselves out of poverty over the course of a few months of engagement.
By shopping with us, you’re supporting a test initiative designed to demonstrate that we can build a sustainable, closed-loop system between our micro-enterprise programs and an online marketplace. If the test is sucessful we'll be able to scale up our programs.
