5.16.2008 - 03:13pm ET

(CSRwire) LITTLE ROCK, AR., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Heifer International
(www.heifer.org) today issued an appeal to donors to contribute to a fund dedicated to rehabilitating Heifer project sites in Sichuan and Chonging provinces that were hit by a devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake on Monday, May 12. More than 8,000 families participate in Heifer development projects in the region hardest hit by the quake. Heifer's central office is in Chengdu just 50 miles from the epicenter of the quake.

Heifer's China Country Director, Chen Taiyong, with staff members Gan Jiyun and Cheng Peilin took emergency supplies collected by Heifer's staff to Du Jiangyan City, which was badly hit. They went to several severely damaged areas in Xiang'e Township to deliver clothes, quilts, drinking water and food. They were met by the Vice Mayor of Du Jiangyan City and township leaders who acknowledged Heifer China's good wishes of helping on the disaster relief efforts.

Heifer International's office in Chengdu, China was rocked by the quake but its 30 staff members were unhurt. They were anxiously awaiting news from sites of Heifer development projects. Officials with Heifer were trying to contact project partners in the worst-hit county of Wenchuan and in Ping'wu and Guangyuan.

Heifer is a development agency rather than an emergency relief agency, but Heifer's staff immediately set to work collecting supplies to send to the devastated region. Even before relief agencies depart, Heifer will begin efforts to redevelop damaged farms and communities to restore its projects there.

With 28 projects in Sichuan and Chonging, each serving about 300 participating families, Heifer has a total of more than 8,000 families in the affected area. The area is mountainous and the houses of rural farmers there are mainly made of stone or brick, so collapses can be devastating to those inside.

Chengdu is a city of 12 million that is the capital of Sichuan Province in west central China. Heifer has historic roots that reach back to 1946 in China, but the modern Heifer program began in 1984. Since then, Heifer has helped many thousands of families become self-reliant using agricultural training and livestock. In the mountainous quake zone, Heifer provides mainly goats, pigs and other small animals because the people have small farms without the ability to support large ruminants.

Pelin Cheng, who works for Heifer in Chengdu, reported that her family was among those that had spent the last few night sleeping outdoors under a plastic cover, their only protection from persistent rainfall. She reported in an email to Heifer's Little Rock office: "Thank you sincerely for your caring and concern. Heifer China office is back at work this morning. Staff and family are safe in Chengdu. Situation is getting more stable now .... However, whole city is very scared."

News trickled out from the quake zone, with death tolls mounting from a few thousand on Tuesday to more than 50,000 by the middle of the week. Transportation and communications in the quake zone were severely disrupted.

Heifer's mission is to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. For more than 60 years, Heifer International has provided livestock and environmentally sound agricultural training to improve the lives of those who struggle daily for reliable sources of food and income. Heifer is currently working in more than 57 countries, including the U.S., to help families and communities become more self-reliant. Since 1944 it has helped 48 million people through training in livestock development and livestock gifts that multiply. Every gift of an animal provides direct benefits such as milk, eggs, wool, fertilizer, and indirect benefits that increase family incomes for better housing, nutrition, health care and school fees for children. Recipients "Pass on the Gift" of offspring of their cows, goats and other livestock to others in an ever-widening circle of hope.

For information about Heifer, visit www.heifer.org, or call
1-800-696-1918.

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