When he retired, Sid Vander Meulen not only downsized his belongings, he also downsized his career – literally. Sid went from selling real estate to making and selling birdhouses!

“I call my birdhouse sales, From Scraps to Goats,” Sid said. He sells the birdhouses he makes from recycled lumber at farmer’s markets, craft sales, and his church, Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alberta. Sid donates his proceeds to buying goats from World Renew’s Gift Catalogue.

“I grew up with goats,” Sid said. “I was young during war, and goats provided milk when there was little else available. I dedicate my income from selling birdhouses to buying goats from the gift catalogue because it gives me a goal in helping others who don’t have enough to eat.”

Sid also said that sometimes he follows up in email with customers who buy a birdhouse. “I messaged a guy who bought a birdhouse and let him know he was halfway to purchasing a goat – so he bought two more birdhouses – and I gave him a gift catalogue!”

He added that the birdhouses and the goats he purchases from World Renew’s gift catalog are even more meaningful because “They’re gifts that last.”

Imagine how you can make a difference with “gifts that last.” Whether it’s providing a goat that supplies milk and income, seeds that grow into reliable harvests, or tools that help families build brighter futures, your gift can create lasting change. Every purchase or fundraiser becomes more than a one-time gesture—it’s a step toward hope, resilience, and opportunity for communities around the world.