#RealLifeHeroes start young…
World Humanitarian Day is a UN designated day (August 19) of recognition that celebrates the concept of people helping people and raises public awareness of compassionate assistance worldwide. There may never have been an more important year to introduce your household to this concept than here in 2020. Let’s take a look at some engaging ways you can celebrate this important event with the next generation of humanitarians – your children.
3 Great Ways Canadian Households Can Recognize World Humanitarian Day
Do Something Thoughtful for the #RealLifeHeroes in Your Community
The 2020 theme of World Humanitarian Day is #RealLifeHeroes. Your family can use this as an opportunity to recognize the real life heroes in your community and do something to show them that they are greatly appreciated.
Let’s say there’s a firehall in your neighborhood. Your family can hit the local farmer’s market and put together a gift basket of nutritious goodies (and maybe a few yummy pastries) and other locally made items. Have your kids decorate the basket and even add their own drawings or crafts that say “THANK YOU” for all that their local heroes do. Once wrapped up and ready to go, your family can deliver the gift basket in-person or drop it off if they happen to be out on an emergency. This concept can also apply to other first responders, health care workers, or any group that you see making a positive difference in your city or town.
Don’t forget to take plenty of photos along the way (of whatever it is you’re doing to show appreciation) and share the images on your family members’ social networks using the designated hashtag of #RealLifeHeroes. This will help spread awareness to other households and hopefully result in a domino effect!
Help a Household Who Can’t Help Themselves in Your Community
COVID 19 has created unprecedented need in your community. A simple walk to the grocery store is not as simple as it once was for people who are especially vulnerable to the current health crisis. Your family can help in such matters.
Is there an elderly couple in your neighborhood that finds it challenging to get errands done given the number of precautions they must take before stepping outside of their door? In such a case you can offer to pick up groceries from the local market while your kids mow the lawn, water their plants, and help out with a variety of outdoor chores. Doing this for a week (or more) will alleviate a tremendous burden for those who are facing a big challenge at this time. Plus, it will teach your kids about how good it feels to help others – even with something as simple as pulling weeds or painting a fence.
Donate to a Foundation That Supports Future Generations
In the past, we may have suggested that you help out a local food bank, shelter, or visit a seniors center and the like. This is not as viable in 2020. The good news however, is that you can still make a BIG difference by getting involved with a foundation who can take over the “hands on” work for you.
Consider the Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation. We have a variety of options for how households can get involved. At any given moment there may be volunteer opportunities where your family to work together to do good in a safe environment such as a local community garden. However, one opportunity to make a difference that is sure to be “open” this World Humanitarian Day (and all year long) is found by donating to one of our funded programs. You can help with peer to peer fundraising along with other ways to donate.
How can your kids get involved in this part of the process? While we don’t expect them to dig into their hard-earned allowance, they can spearhead a household yard sale to raise funds that can go to a worthy cause that they appreciate such as school gardens and outdoor learning experiences for the less advantaged of their own age group. Plus this (a yard sale) is a great way to get rid of the clutter around your home!
View more about our funded programs and how they depend up on the support of humanitarians – including those found within your very own household.
