With the Jewish and Christian winter holidays quickly approaching, many people are turning to the internet to purchase their gifts. One of the world’s biggest online marketplaces, Amazon, is teaming up with a host of charities to allow shoppers to donate a portion of their purchase to a worthy charity of their choice.
With its free service, AmazonSmile provides any shopper the option to support their favorite charitable organization every time they shop. To register, shoppers must log into the AmazonSmile site and select one of thousands of charities to support, including over 2,000 Israeli and Jewish organizations.
One of the charities, the LIBI USA, directly supports the humanitarian branch of the IDF, known as the LIBI Fund. Via the AmazonSmile service, anyone buying on Amazon can support the IDF with just one click.
While not all products are eligible for AmazonSmile, tens of millions of products across the website are. These products will be marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. In addition, interested parties can also share their favorite organization with friends on social media to earn even more money for the organization.
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5 percent of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to your chosen charity.
“This great initiative by Amazon is an amazing way to help IDF soldiers who are in need this holiday season,” Dr. John A.I. Grossman, LIBI USA Chairman, told Breaking Israel News. “Many people don’t know that there is a large number of IDF soldiers who don’t get enough to eat when they are off-base, who struggle to support their families, who came alone to this country and need help. Amazon is providing a way for people who are buying holiday gifts for family and friends to give back to the soldiers quickly and easily. After all, it’s the season for generosity and the holiday spirit!”
The LIBI Fund is the IDF’s humanitarian organization tasked with helping raise funds in the US for the Israeli army. The organization’s primary objective is to provide educational, medical and other social services to new immigrant soldiers and underprivileged service members and their families as they fulfill their commitment to the IDF.
By providing for the soldiers of the Jewish state, the LIBI Fund is helping the army maintain security while providing for the wellbeing of those who serve to protect Israel and its people.