With Christmas coming this weekend, and many of us looking for opportunities to teach our children that the holidays are about more than getting presents picked from a catalog, we are excited to shine a spotlight on US Fund for UNICEF. US Fund for UNICEF is a global humanitarian relief organization providing child health care and immunizations, clean water, food, security, education, emergency relief and more.
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While Santa and his sleigh full of presents for every girl and boy is an embodiment of the holiday gift-giving bonanza, it’s easy for kids to succumb to the barrage of advertising and marketing ploys that make them focus so much on the “What am I getting for Christmas?!” part of the season.
Why not show your kids that the holidays are about more than just tearing open presents on Christmas morning?
The good people at the US Fund for UNICEF are offering a couple of ways to help kids (and even parents!) realize the true meaning of the season.
One of these is the “Inspired Gifts” program, in which you can purchase “help kits” for children in need overseas – you can even dedicate the gift to a friend or family member. They range in price from $20 to $100. Kits include:
- Therapeutic milk for malnourished children
- Polio and measles vaccines to keep children healthy
- Mosquito nets to keep children safe from malaria
- Notebooks and pencils for school
- A winter child survival pack and sturdy tents for emergency shelter
Although “Inspired Gifts” are wonderful ways to directly help, another option could be to give a “gift that gives twice” – as in, not only are you giving a tangible gift, but part of the money raised from a purchase you make will help children in need across the world. These range in price from $5 to $80.
As part of this program, UNICEF partnered with IKEA and is offering soft toys and children’s books for sale – for every one sold, the IKEA Foundation will donate $1.35 to support UNICEF. The toys and books are available both at the West Chester store as well as online.
For more information on UNICEF and how to help children in need this season (and throughout the year) please visit http://www.unicefusa.org/.
