World Vision is again asking High River and area residents to step up and help those far, far away.

Genevieve Barber says it can really make a huge difference.

"You can go online at worldvision.com/gifts and you can see there's all sorts of different ideas there," she says. "Livestock is very popular, things like donating goats or chickens to families in areas like Africa or South America or Asia, and all of these gifts are done in the context of World Vision's long term development work."

Barber says they've heard stories about families receiving a goat and after it's bred they were able to give one of the goats back to the community. She says it's more than just an animal, it's an investment in their future.

She says each time a donation is made it means someone in a community working with World Vision is getting something that they'll be taught to look after and turn into a viable business.

Barber says if you don't want to give livestock there's also clean water or fruit trees or other items.

Last year in High River 42 people gave $7,900 worth of life-changing World Vision gifts.