By Alison McFerrin

The Selma Times-Journal

You might not think you can support integrity worldwide by purchasing a hunk of meat, but if you buy a Boston Butt, you will indeed be supporting Integrity Worldwide — a service organization that is improving daily life in Kenya.

“We have a lot of projects there with education and all these things that help build a community,” Integrity Worldwide executive director Alan Hicks said.

Integrity Worldwide, in operation since 2006, works in Meto, a village on the border of Kenya and Tanzania, to provide the things the village lacks, such as libraries, a well and medical care. “It’s a good day away from any civilization, driving,” Hicks said.

The program’s current goals include providing 10 scholarships for Kenyan students to attend high school ($25 per month per student for five years) and purchasing a Land Cruiser to aid in travel to provide services (about $30,000).

“Not everybody wants to go to Africa and do that, but they can participate in another way,” Hicks said.

Profits from Integrity Worldwide’s Boston Butt sale will go to support these causes. Each ticket costs $35, and 100 percent of the profits, or about $25, go to supporting projects in Kenya.

“I think we have about 60 tickets left,” Hicks said. “We really want to ramp up our fundraising because we really have all these projects going.”

The program will send a team of 12 people, including six from Selma, to Kenya on July 7.

To purchase a Boston Butt, you can order online at www.integrityworldwide.com or call 322-1201. Pick-up will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 1710 Dallas Ave. Crosspoint parking lot on July 1.