Not your typical registry: Couple asks for 1,000 goats to help developing villages

Hope Schreiber
·Writer
Ed and Kathy Dean hold a goat at their “Celebration of Life.” They hope to receive enough money to donate 1,000 goats —instead of wedding gifts — to villages in Africa. (Photo: Courtesy of Ed and Kathy Dean)
Ed and Kathy Dean hold a goat at their “Celebration of Life.” They hope to receive enough money to donate 1,000 goats —instead of wedding gifts — to villages in Africa. (Photo: Courtesy of Ed and Kathy Dean)

When you check your friend or family member’s wedding registry, you can expect to see the same household staples: a KitchenAid mixer, a set of dishes, a new vacuum.

You don’t usually see “1,000 goats, please.”

Instead of wedding presents, Katherine and Edwin Dean asked for donations to purchase 1,000 goats, which will help developing villages in Africa.

The happy couple told WFTX that after they spent time volunteering in Malawi, Africa, they felt inspired to continue helping others and became involved with Children of the Nations’ Village Partnership program

The program works with 25 villages comprising 19,000 people. One goat — costing about $50 — can significantly help improve a family’s quality of life.

A spokesperson for the charity told WFTX, “One approach we take to combat lack of food and income is to provide families with goats as a source of income. One goat can help a farmer produce a fruitful harvest by using its byproducts as fertilizer. We also encourage families to breed their goats and sell offspring to local markets as an additional source of income.”

“I think people were very moved that instead of wedding presents we were asking for donations,” said Katherine.

“Some people bought one, two, four, 10. We did have one group that gave 100 goats,” Edwin said.

The couple, who met while jetskiing in Florida at the Naples Beach Hotel, share two great loves: adventure and helping others. So far, enough money for 670 goats has been donated, but the couple still hopes to reach 1,000. They are accepting donations here.

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