Happy Easter from SIFAT

Download a PDF copy of this Easter 2020 mailing from SIFAT

Written by Kathy Bryson, SIFAT’s training director

I have met many incredible people who have overcome adversity and are determined to make a difference in the lives of others. I want to share Anner Sagustame’s story with you. Anner is from rural Honduras and has been doing an agricultural internship with us in Costa Rica, helping to set up demonstration models for family gardens and conserving soil and water. He will return soon to graduate at his agriculture college in Honduras. He wants to learn more at SIFAT about appropriate technologies in water purification, solar energy, simple water pumps for irrigation, preventing malnutrition in children and community development.

Anner and his grandmother

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#GivingTuesday2019 is Dec. 3!

#GivingTuesday is coming soon! Please save the date for Dec. 3 to participate in this global holiday that celebrates generosity and kindness by giving to SIFAT. Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday buying season, #GivingTuesday starts the giving season, reminding us what this time of year is truly about! Isn’t it exciting to be part of something greater than ourselves when we join together to give back!

#GivingTuesday is a wonderful time to embrace the spirit of giving! This year, our matching fund is $60,000 – double your donation! The “rules” for #GivingTuesday are the same as previous years. When you make a donation at any time on December 3, your contribution will double because of the matching fund set up by a generous group of SIFAT donors—up to the first $60,000 that we raise!

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#GivingTuesday 2018 – Nov. 27

It’s #GivingTuesday time once again! Please save the date for Nov. 27 to participate in this global holiday that celebrates generosity and kindness by giving to nonprofit organizations, such as SIFAT. Just as Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday buying season, #GivingTuesday starts the giving season, reminding us what this time of year is truly about! Isn’t it exciting to be part of something greater than ourselves when we join together to give back!

SIFAT is participating in #GivingTuesday for the sixth year. It’s the perfect time to take a break from the hustle of holiday shopping and embrace the spirit of giving! This year, we have our largest matching fund yet—$60,000 to double your gift! The “rules” for #GivingTuesday are the same as previous years. When you make a donation at any time on November 27, your contribution will double because of the matching fund set up by a generous group of SIFAT donors—up to the first $60,000 that we raise!

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Shopping with Purpose

As you start shopping this holiday season, please remember SIFAT! There are many ways you can help SIFAT while choosing gifts for the important people in your life.

SIFAT Village Store

Did you know we have a gift shop on our campus? Gifts from around the world made primarily by family microenterprises and cooperatives are available with all proceeds benefiting SIFAT. To schedule a time to shop or purchase a gift certificate for the Village Store, contact villagestore@sifat.org. If you are unable to visit the Village Store in person, Peggy and Marie will be glad to help find the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones and ship it to you or directly to them. You can also purchase limited items online: sifatvillagestore.ecwid.com

Online Retailers

Thousands of popular retailers offer a percentage of your purchase as a donation to your favorite charity — SIFAT! Use either Goodshop or iGive to find coupon codes and shop at your favorite stores (you will be redirected to the retailers’ sites). Sign up for a free account to your giving, so you can see how much you raise to benefit SIFAT.

goodshop.com/nonprofit/servants-in-faith-and-technology-sifat  or  iGive.com/sifat

Do you shop on Amazon? For a portion of your purchase to benefit SIFAT, use AmazonSmile for when you make a purchase and choose SIFAT as your charity.

smile.amazon.com/ch/63-0776048

Commemorative Bricks

Honor a loved one by ordering a commemorative brick for our Open Spaces, Sacred Places garden. We broke ground this fall and bricks will be placed soon. Order online at www.bricksrus.com/order/sifat or contact Marie, lanierm@sifat.org, for more information.

In Honor / In Memory

Not sure what to buy for someone one your list? Give a lasting gift by donating in his or her honor/memory. Send your donation to SIFAT with the name and address of whom you would like us to send an acknowledgement.

Ecuador: New Regulations = New Concrete Equipment

In 2018, the Aida Leon project will break ground in Ecuador! However, new building codes and government regulations will not allow us to mix concrete by hand, as teams have done for the last 17 years in the traditional building style of Quito. SIFAT Ecuador’s engineer, Edwin Contreras, told us that inspectors were enforcing these new rules and even requiring some buildings to be torn down because of a lack of compliance. While it is the improving codes that are requiring the new equipment, we know many of our team members are excited about how much easier preparing concrete to pour columns will be!

Because of new building codes, SIFAT Ecuador must buy a concrete mixer and vibrator before the first mission team to Aida Leon arrives in February.

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